The Essence of the Blues provides beginners and moderately advanced musicians with an introduction to the language of the blues. Perfect for study, rehearsals or classroom, this book and CD method features ten deeply authentic pieces focused on the styles of historic jazz and blues figures. Accompanied by professionally performed and recorded playbacks, aspiring jazz musicians will learn to master the essential basics step by step. Each piece comes with appropriate scale exercises, tips for studying and practicing, suggestions for improvisations, as well as recommended listening. The included blues analysis,, theory and vocabulary studies will help the user in learning to improvise on the blues.