Jazz Improvisation

Book excerpt: This is a programmed text for a 2-4 semester course in jazz improvisation. Emphasis is placed on the structural pitches, functional harmony, & resolution tendencies inherent in the idiom. A thorough discourse of jazz melodic formulae is woven throughout the text. Idiomatic harmonic progressions are likewise explained. The styles addressed by this book range from be-bop principles through extended harmony, polytonal & modal jazz, as well as the avant-garde. There are twenty songs (based on standard chord progressions) included in the text for study & practice. Appendices include: transpositions of the songs, sample solos, turnaround melody lines, a formula recap, & a glossary. A compact disc is included for play-along purposes.