Improvising Jazz

by Jerry Coker, Stan Kenton (Foreword), Gunther Schuller (Foreword)

With musical scores and helpful charts, noted jazz educator and featured jazz soloist, Jerry Coker, gives the beginning performer and the curious listener insights into the art of jazz improvisation. Improvising Jazz gives the beginning performer and the curious listener alike insights into the art of jazz improvisation. Jerry Coker, teacher and noted jazz saxophonist, explains the major concepts of jazz, including blues, harmony, swing, and the characteristic chord progressions. An easy-to-follow self-teaching guide, Improvising Jazz contains practical exercises and musical examples. Its step-by-step presentation shows the aspiring jazz improviser how to employ fundamental musical and theoretical tools, such as melody, rhythm, and superimposed chords, to develop an individual melodic style.

Genres: Music, Jazz, Nonfiction, Reference

155 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 20, 2010

Reviews

[Jake · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book, but unlike books like, "Free Play," by Stephen Nachmanovitch this book is directed at an audience with some music theory knowledge, and thirsting for more. Good balance of theoretical information as well as subjective, broad themes.

[Jerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pithy little book on jazz improvisation that I'm finding useful in my bluegrass playing. The father of Bluegrass would say, when someone took a break that strayed far from the theme, "that's no part of nothing." Of course, in jazz and especially with jam bands from Garcia to Phish, others love to jam out to the limits. I've heard Yonder Mountain String Band jam out on Little Maggie for 40 minutes (it's usually a 2 minute song) by the time they came back to restate the theme I had forgotten what song they were playing, but it was great. They take you down a familiar path and you end up on a memorable journey you didnt expect. Neverthe less, there is still some merit in what Mr. Monroe said. I was speaking to someone who has been a dancer and teacher for many years. I asked him if there were any parameters in dance improvisation and he said something interesting - "as a dancer you dont want to be too self-indulgent." it's about connecting with your audience not showing every trick in your bag. I think that is what Mr. Monroe had in mind.

[Joe Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not a dumbed-down theory book—it assumes the reader knows a few things to begin with and goes quickly. I'll probably have to read it a few more times to sort through some things, but I got a lot out of it. I finally understand how the scales I play relate to chords on the guitar or piano and what my options are for improvisation. I used to just play it by ear, but this gives me a comfort level through an overall structural understanding of the music.

[gekko100 · Rating 3 out of 5]

another slim, light-weight volume from Coker. has some interesting stuff, but not essential reading.

[Sean Luciw · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book explained many mysteries of jazz to me, in a way I could understand. The collection of charts in the back of the book are also quite helpful.