Best jazz theory books?

canteenboy · #1 07-24-2009, 07:58 PM

What are some of the most trusted? I'm looking to purchase one.

scarekrow · #2 07-24-2009, 08:28 PM

I'm interested too.

mytmous · #3 07-24-2009, 08:41 PM

Subscribed

singlemalt · #4 07-24-2009, 08:51 PM

I'm liking Ed Friedland's Bass Improvisation. Concise, and a nice well recorded CD to help with the reading. Pan the bass off and you still get the piano and drums. Lots of jazz progressions.

Tons of theory to work through.

Gets quickly to the nuts and bolts of building phrases over/out of chords, forward motion and into harmony.

Mine's overdue at the library and likely to rack up fines, cause I'll never be done. I'm looking to buy a copy. Seems cheap @ $20.

jweiss · #5 07-24-2009, 11:48 PM

Mark Levine's "The Jazz Theory Book".

But if you give more information on exactly what you want to know/learn, maybe we could offer more advice. Levine's book is excellent as a jazz theory book but, for example, it's not gonna teach you how to play jazz.

Frederickbass · #6 07-25-2009, 12:00 AM

+1 For Mark Levines Book, you also got the ''Patterns for jazz for bass clef instruments'' wish will get you to understand the chords and help your improvisation.

If you are not familiar with walking I suggest ed frieland building walking basslines,

and listen to a lot of jazz records,

**KJung** · #7 07-25-2009, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jweiss

Mark Levine's "The Jazz Theory Book".

But if you give more information on exactly what you want to know/learn, maybe we could offer more advice. Levine's book is excellent as a jazz theory book but, for example, it's not gonna teach you how to play jazz.

GREAT book. I refer to it often. And +1, it's a 'theory' book more than a 'how to' book.

There's another book from that series by Randy Halberstadt called 'Metaphors for the Musician' that is also great. It's an unusual take on theory, and kind of rambles through a lot of subjects. However, it is actually readable from cover to cover versus the more 'reference' orientation of the Levine book.

Both are, IMO, must haves!

Jaydin Nathan · #8 07-25-2009, 06:05 AM

I recently bought "Jazzology: The Jazz Encyclopedia For All Musicians" By Robert Rawlins and Nor Eddine Barhha.

It's a thick red paperback, and I'm finding it excellent. It is a theory book like Levine's, only this includes a chapter on Jazz Piano Comping, and it has really propelled me forward with my piano playing.

I recommend at least checking it out on Amazon, where you can peak inside.

**KJung** · #9 07-25-2009, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheJaydin

I recently bought "Jazzology: The Jazz Encyclopedia For All Musicians" By Robert Rawlins and Nor Eddine Barhha.

It's a thick red paperback, and I'm finding it excellent. It is a theory book like Levine's, only this includes a chapter on Jazz Piano Comping, and it has really propelled me forward with my piano playing.

I recommend at least checking it out on Amazon, where you can peak inside.

Thank for the tip on that. It looks like a great resource. I just ordered from Amazon.

I find these books a good investment. If I just pick up one or two ideas or some additional knowledge that improves my playing just a smidge, they are worth every penny!

greenboy · #10 07-25-2009, 09:06 AM

Anything by William L. Fowler, who died earlier this year - http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=31147 - survived by sons who have played with (among others) Frank Zappa and Dave Brubeck. He was notable for long-running theory/composition/education columns in Down Beat magazine and Keyboard magazine that packed a lot of knowledge into any column. He wrote in such a clear fashion, always providing great examples and a wonderful sense of humor that made it easier.

canteenboy · #11 07-25-2009, 01:57 PM

Thanks for all the feedback, time to go buy one or two.

Intenzity · #12 07-25-2009, 02:47 PM

+1 for any of the Sher books (Jazz Theory and Metaphors for the Musician). Anything from Sher (or Mr. Friedland) is top notch.

Highly recommended.

XylemBassGuitar · #13 07-25-2009, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jweiss

Mark Levine's "The Jazz Theory Book".

But if you give more information on exactly what you want to know/learn, maybe we could offer more advice. Levine's book is excellent as a jazz theory book but, for example, it's not gonna teach you how to play jazz.

Yet another +1,

Levine's book is very good and very comprehensive, but if you don't have much experience playing jazz you may have a hard time utilizing the information from that book in real situations.

The Aebersold books are really good for teaching jazz too.

Jaydin Nathan · #14 07-26-2009, 02:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

Thank for the tip on that. It looks like a great resource. I just ordered from Amazon.

I find these books a good investment. If I just pick up one or two ideas or some additional knowledge that improves my playing just a smidge, they are worth every penny!

No problem. I hope you gain something from it.