Jamey Aebersold Volume 1-How to Play Jazz Review

As the song goes: “Let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start.” I will be reviewing Jamey’s Play Along volumes one by one. Will I review all 120? Only time will tell. One thing is for sure: I will have plenty to write about for the foreseeable future! I used to have this volume but I think I wore it out too (the “LP” that is).

NOTE: Please, if you are using this JA Volume #1 or have in the past- leave a comment about it or a “mini review” for our readers. Thanks -Marty

Beginning/Intermediate. Easy to understand and inspiring for all musicians wishing to explore the secrets of jazz improv. CD includes blues in Bb and F, four dorian minor tracks, four-measure cadences, cycle of dominants, 24-measure song, II/V7 in all keys. Book includes transposed parts for all instruments. The CD includes Jamey playing exercises from the book. Hear the master clinician show you exactly how it’s done!
Rhythm Section: Jamey Aebersold (p); Rufus Reid (b); Jonathan Higgins (d)

“The Jamey Aebersold Volume 1 How to Play Jazz and Improvise is the culmination of Jameys 40 years as one of the worlds leading jazz improv educators. Aebersold Volume 1 has unlocked the mysteries of jazz improvisation for a whole generation of musicians who previously had nowhere to turn for competent rhythm sections and accurate instruction. How to Play and Improvise is available as a book with CD accompaniment.

MORE INFOThis volume has updated information presented in a new manner that is both easy to understand and inspiring for all musicians wishing to explore the secrets of jazz improvisation. Includes chapters on scales/chords, developing creativity, improv fundamentals, 12 Blues Scales, Bebop scales, pentatonic scales and usage, time and feeling, melodic development, II/V7s, related scales and modes, practical exercises/patterns and licks, Dominant 7th tree of scale choices, nomenclature, chromaticism, scale syllabus, and more! This complete improvisation set, along with Volume 24 “Major and Minor” can greatly open your ears and improve your playing. Now the Volume 1 CD is even BETTER! It now includes demonstration tracks of Jamey playing the exercises from the book. Hear the master clinician show you exactly how it is done! These new tracks make Volume 1 an even more important tool for the beginning jazz improvisor    Tracks: F Minor, Eb Minor, D Minor (8 Bars Each) F Minor, Eb Minor, D Minor (4 Bars Each) Random Minor Chords (8 Bars Each) Random Minor Chords (4 Bars Each) Four Measure Cadences (ii/V7/I) Blues In Key Of Bb Concert Blues In Key Of F Concert Cycle Of Dominant 7th’s (4 Bars Each) 24-Measure Song Minor to Dominant Progression (12 Keys) Verbal Instructions Track #2 w/Examples 1-4 Track #2 w/Examples 5-8 Track #2 w/Examples 9-12 Track #2 w/Examples 13-16 Track #2 w/Examples 17-20 Track #2 w/Jamey Soloing Track #2 w/Jamey Soloing Track #7 (Bb Blues) w/8 Exercises On Pg. 26 Track #7 (Bb Blues) w/Soloing   1 of 1 people found the following review helpful: *the* place to start for jazz improv, February 13, 2008 By Tobin Mori Saratoga, CA United States) I had read the previous version of this book over a decade ago, and this book is a huge step forward. If I had had this version back then, I probably would’ve been much better at jazz improv today. The only downside of this book is the information architecture (e.g. page layout); it’s a bit arcane, but it’s charming I guess, like that disorganized folder of important papers your music teacher might have given you when you were starting out. Content-wise, this book is filled with jazz improv gems. A must-have. 4 of 4 people found the following review helpful: Jamey Aebersold (Vol. 1) Jazz: How To Play and Improvise, December 23, 2007 By Peter J. Schulte One good improv book is worth years of learning and this is one. You dive into the new references required for jazz with a proper emphasis on playing as the result of understanding. “How to Play and Improvise” imparts that understanding concisely, without the excursions into side topics that detract from my other favorite jazz improv book. As I enter my third quarter of saxophone classes I expect that this book, which was recommended by my instructor, will take me from being a competent player to being a competentimprovisor. Thank you Jamey! Inspiring book and play-a-long cd This book teaches how to learn to improvise for all instruments. Jamey’s message is that it is easy to improvise. He introduces a way of practicing that starts simple and adds complexity step by step. There is much wisdom here, though sometimes a bit scattered and not that organized. The book is more practical than analytical, with short chapters on different topics and many musical examples and licks. I think the main strength with this book lies in the inspirational tone and the play-a-longs on the companion cd. I really like to play along with the songs. Even though the pianist, the drummer and the bass player play “simple” chord progressions and 12-bar blues songs they swing and they groove! You should buy the DVD also, because in the DVD Jamey sits at his piano and explains many of the concepts presented in the book and shows how to play along. I find his way of talking about and demonstrating jazz to be very inspiring. He makes it simple. I have watched the DVD many times by now, just to get me in the right mood. Anders Vesterberg For more information visit: Jamey Aebersold Jazz Review.com