“What good is music if it ain’t got that swing?”
– Duke Ellington
The Associated Board responds with Jazz Piano, a comprehensive introduction to the world of jazz. A pioneering set of publications and optional assessment materials provide the building blocks you need to play jazz with imagination, understanding, and style, and to improvise effectively right from the start. Five levels of graded pieces contain a wide range of styles: funky jazz, up-tempo swing, calypso, Latin, jazz waltz, modal, bebop, Gospel, ragtime, free jazz, and more. There are classic tunes by Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Bill Evans, and Thelonious Monk. Within each level there are 15 pieces, aural tests, quick studies, scales, arpeggios, and a CD. The 15 pieces are presented in three categories: blues, standards, and contemporary jazz. Each piece provides a head/melody which contains all the characteristic voicings, phrasing, and rhythmic patterns needed for a stylish performance. An improvised section follows, where guideline pitches and left-hand voicings are given as a practical starting point for solos. Totally accessible and at the highest musical standards, these pieces provide the opportunity to play jazz confidently and creatively.
