From the back of the book:
“Outstanding jazz performer and educator Noah Baerman has made a major contributions to the field of jazz piano education with The Big Book of Jazz Piano Improvisation. By organizing topics into three main categories – scales, modes and other source material; practical application; and conceptual issues – Baerman’s approach develops the skills you need to channel your improvisational impulses into great solos. Complex subjects are taught with an engaging and friendly style, so topics such as patterns, rhythmic variety, melodic contour, guide tones, locked hands and rhythmic displacement are easy and enjoyable to learn. This is a must-have book that all jazz pianists will use for years to come.”
CONTENTS
Note: Sections called Conceptual Corner are interspersed throughout. Subjects of conceptual corners include:
1) So What is Improvisation, Anyway?
2) Ear Training
3) Transcription
4) Different Types of Keyboards
5) Tension and Release
6) Extremes of Tempo – Ballads and Burners
7) Inspiration from Other Sources
8) Developing Your Own Style
9) Outside the 4/4 Box – Other Time Signatures
10) Tunes
11) On-the-job Training
Chapter 1 – Your Basic Toolbox
Topics Include: Major and Minor Scales; Intervals; Key Signatures; Cycle of 5ths; Triads; 7th and 6th Chords; Voicings and Inversions; Diatonic Harmony; Voice Leading; Lead Sheets; Harmonic Analysis; Playing in All 12 Keys – Transposition
Chapter 2 – Application of Basic Tools
Topics Include: Two and Four: the Backbeat; Syncopation; Chord Tones; Major Scale Options; Minor Scale Options; Using the Melody – Paraphrase and Embellishment; Patterns, Creating Your Own Patterns, Incorporating Patterns into a Solo; Rhythmic Variety; Melodic Contour; Applying “Heard” Contours to a Tune; Interaction; Putting it Together
Chapter 3 – Professional Toolbox
Topics Include: Modes of the Major Scale; Modes as Autonomous Scales; Non-Chord Tones; Chromatic Notes; Chord Extensions and Alterations; Substitution; Blues Devices; Shell Voicings and Guide Tone Lines
Chapter 4 – Application of Professional Tools
Topics Include: Modal Tunes; Making the Changes; The Skeleton of a Bebop Line: Guide Tones and More; Using Ornaments and Chromatic Notes; Substitution as an Improvisational Tool; Making the Changes – Putting it Together; The Blues; Pacing
Chapter 5 – Deluxe Toolbox
Topics Include: Melodic Minor Scale and its Modes; Harmonic Minor Scale and its Modes; Lydian Diminished Scale and its Modes; Symmetrical Scales – Diminished and Whole Tone; Clusters; Locked Hands; Reharmonization; Matrices and “Giant Steps” Changes; Other Chords; Simple Elements for Hipness
Chapter 6 – Application of Deluxe Tools
Topics Include: Scales, Scales and More Scales; Side-Slipping; Melodic Intervals Revisited; Pentatonic Scales Revisited; Triads Revisited; Soloing on Coltrane Changes; Multi-Note Solo Devices: Block Chords and More; Hemiola; Rhythmic Displacement; Playing on Non-Diatonic Changes; Playing “Colors” on a Standard; Freedom;
Appendices
Conclusion
Suggested Listening
CD Supplement – 12-Key Examples
Index of Complete Chord Progressions (to Practice and Play-along with CD)
