Created for a wide variety of musicians, 12 Medium-Easy Jazz, Blues and Funk Etudes will appeal to both aspiring players and more experienced musicians. Accessible, yet with some challenges, this music was written by world-renowned jazz composer, arranger, saxophonist, bandleader, educator, and member of the "Yellowjackets," Bob Mintzer. Designed at the medium-easy grade level, this book includes: jazz, blues and funk etudes in a variety of styles, tempos, and time signatures; performance notes for each etude to assist in interpretation and improvisation; a play-along CD with a stellar rhythm section; transcription and composition exercises; practice pages with scales and chords; opportunities to study and learn invaluable jazz skills. All books are compatible and written so they can be performed together.

Hudson Music has teamed up with Turn It Up & Lay It Down creator Spencer Strand to bring you this series of books to accompany the popular and critically-acclaimed Turn It Up and Lay It Down CDs. Each book in the series represents a custom-tailored appraoch to learning grooves, fills and concepts that can be applied to learning different styles and playing along with the accompanying CDs. This is a complete instructional play-along package with a unique twist! The included minus-drums CD features 11 tracks that gradually step up in tempo from 100 to 310 BPM. Based on classic jazz standards, these play-along tunes give the drummer the opportunity to work on increasing his/her jazz drumming facility in a real-world musical fashion. The package contains drum charts and suggested patterns for each song, as well as a lead sheet for each song, helping the drummer to understand what he or she may encounter on a real jazz gig. Written by two jazz pros, Peter Retzlaff and Jim Rupp, this book/CD pack also includes a complete instructional method for learning how to play jazz, covering such topics as developing your jazz ride cymbal patterns, feathering the bass drum, learning comping patterns, and playing with brushes. All of the songs and educational topics are accompanied by clear text that explains the concepts, along with an extensive recommended listening discography.

This book and CD pack will teach saxophonists twelve of Coltrane's signature licks, including ones from: Blue Train (Blue Trane); Bye, Bye Blackbird; Giant Steps; Impressions; Moment's Notice; My Favorite Things; Naima (Niema); Acknowledgement (Part I); Bessie's Blues; Countdown; Lazy Bird and Mr. P.C. Also features in-depth analysis of his solos and compositions.

With Big Band Drumming at First Sight, Steve Fidyk offers a comprehensive approach to improve sight-reading skills in a big band setting. With advice on how to accompany different musical forms and playing styles, Fidyk gives detailed information that will strengthen your ability to recognize band figures and beat patterns quickly and easily. The companion play-along MP3 CD features 10 arrangements of varying style with beat and figure examples extracted from each score that are "looped" or repeated several times for thorough study. Big Band Drumming at First Sight will be an invaluable tool in helping you to become a better sight-reader! Read, listen, study, and learn through Steve's experience on what it takes to look at a drumset part once, and know how to deliver the musical goods with confidence!

A fun collection of all-time big-band classics, with a play-along CD. Includes: April in Paris; I've Got You Under My Skin; In the Mood; It Don't Mean a Thing (If it Ain't Got That Swing); Route 66; Speak Low; Stomping at the Savoy; Tangerine; This Can't Be Love and Until I Met You (Corner Pocket).

Basic Library
At last, a jazz play-along book for developing players! In addition to being a perfect introduction to some of the best-known jazz standards, this book includes hints for improvising on each tune, a guide to jazz articulations, plus a scale/chord correlation chart. Biographical sketches of key jazz figures are also included. And, if that wasn't enough, each tune comes with its own sample solo for reference or performance. The professionally recorded audio CD also includes tempo adjustment software for use in your computer (CD-ROM) with a choice of full recordings with melody, or rhythm section only. Titles included are: Now's the Time, Killer Joe, Blue Bossa, C-Jam Blues, Footprints, Song for My Father, Autumn Leaves, Freddie Freeloader, St. Thomas and Blue Train. The rhythm section book also includes bass lines, piano voicings and drum patterns. Careful attention has been given to this series to make it stylistically appropriate for each instrument. This is excellent training material and a lot of fun for developing players!

Essential Styles, Books 1 and 2 are two innovative book and play-along CD packages that teach 50 essential grooves from today's jazz and popular styles. The books include written-out charts of each selection and performance tips for both drums and bass. All of the grooves have been recorded with a rhythm section and woodwinds, with drums mixed on the left channel and bass on the right, so either instrument may be dialed out. In addition, many of the tracks contain open choruses of comping so any instrument can practice playing solos! Essential Styles emphasizes the most important aspects of solid group playing?locking-in between the drummer and bassist? providing a strong rhythmic foundation and creating an authentic feel for whatever the style demands.

This awesome series features ten big-band charts composed and arranged by Gordon Goodwin; a play-along CD with demo tracks; solo opportunities; transcribed solos in the sax, trumpet and trombone books; and performance tips and suggestions by Gordon Goodwin and his lead players! In the drum book, a question-and-answer session with Bernie Dresel and Gordon discusses aspects of big-band drumming. Chord changes for the solo sections are included in the saxophone, trumpet and trombone books as well as selected transcriptions of the solos recorded by various band members. In the drum book/CD, the original horn solos have been kept intact so the drummer can play off the soloists. Trumpet Book: Wayne Bergeron... one-of-a-kind lead trumpet player! Alto and Tenor Saxophone Books: Eric Marienthal... the remarkable saxophonist! Trombone Book: Andy Martin... sets a new standard for jazz trombonists! Drum Book: Bernie Dresel... one of the most musical and well-rounded drummers on the scene today! Includes: Count Bubba's Revenge; Cut 'n Run; Get in Line; High Maintenance; Horn of Puente; Hunting Wabbits; The Jazz Police; La Almeja Pequena; Swingin' for the Fences and Whodunnit. Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band Play-Along Series will allow players to make huge strides toward improving their big-band skills!

Basic Library
Composed and arranged by Gordon Goodwin, these ten saxophone duets are completely interchangeable for any combination of Eb or Bb saxophones. They can be played with a duet partner, or the CD can be used to play duets with either of these two great saxophonists. On the included CD, Duet part 1 and Duet part 2 are each controlled by dialing in or out the left or right channels of the stereo system. Gordon Goodwin plays tenor sax on Duet part 1 and 2, Eric Marienthal plays alto sax on Duet part 1 and 2. Gordon and Eric play together on parts 1 and 2. There are opportunities to improvise too! Titles include: Act Your Age; Count Bubba's Revenge; El Macho Muchacho; Gumbo Street; Hunting Wabbits; The Jazz Police; La Pequena Almeja; Maynard & Waynard; Swingin' for the Fences and There's the Rub.

Learn how to play and improvise in the styles of Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Ben Webster, Stan Getz, Dexter Gordon and other jazz saxophone greats! The book uses real jazz classics to teach you, and covers topics including chord progressions; scales and licks; soloing styles; modes; pentatonics; instruments; equipment and more. Songs include: Autumn Leaves; Chi Chi; Doxy; Easy Living; Footprints; I Remember You; Maiden Voyage; Meditation; Satin Doll; So What; Song for My Father and more. The CD includes 87 tracks for demonstration and play along.