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Title: Jazz Piano and Harmony : A Fundamental Guide (Book & CD) by John M. Ferrara ISBN: 0-9701367-0-6 Publisher: John Ferrara Music Pub Pub. Date: 22 April, 2000 Format: Paperback List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Average Customer Rating: 4.2 (5 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: Doesn't go deep enough
Comment: This book is a pretty good introduction to jazz theory. However, some issues are well explained and presented - and some are not:
The (basic) material regarding chord construction, inversions and voice leading is pretty adequate, and the chapters about tensions, secondary dominants and cadences are also well explained.
But some other chapters are simply a waste of time and paper, they give just a very small taste which is not very helpful, unless you're familiar with the subjects (and then you don't really need these chapters...). These include the improvisation palettes and techniques, spread voicing and blues.
Even the better chapters should've gone deeper for my opinion, since this book was probably meant to be a self-learning one. In many cases, a short sentence is used to explain a big issue, and you have to figure out by yourself what do with it. And - much more examples should've been given throughout the book. As it is, it's a pretty boring theory book. More real jazz tunes and examples would've made it more attractive.
Nonetheless, it would be a pretty good introduction (for some of the issues) for beginners in jazz, and a pretty good reference guide (the tables regarding chord construction and tensions are quite useful). And the CD gives some nice ideas about what to do with the issues covered
Rating: 3
Summary: Good reference - not for a beginner
Comment: This book has some great information in it, but the concepts are not explained thoroughly enough for a beginner, especially the later chapters. Furthermore, I found the CD to be pretty much worthless - it gave me the impression that he was just winging it without having thought out his presentation.
Rating: 5
Summary: Sophisticated without being overwhelming.
Comment: If you've been considering studying jazz piano, this is the book you must definitely own...I first purchased Mark Levine's Jazz Piano book, and though this is a fantastic reference source on the stylistic history of jazz piano with many examples, it is a bit overwhelming to manage from a practical standpoint. There is just so much, one doesn't know where to start.
Mr. Ferrara, on the other hand, has a gift for focusing the student on critical areas. His chapter on voice leading is so enjoyable and wonderful to work through that it is both inspiring and demystifying.
For [the money], you get the book and CD, in which Mr. Ferrara lectures and plays some tasty examples...
Here is what you get:
1.) Step by step chapters on chord construction: You begin with triads and work your way through four-part chords.
2.) Voice Leading techniques: as you play chords, your transitions can be creative and smooth. Mr. Ferrara takes you through this with a tasteful progression that is fun to play--that is, IT DOESN'T FEEL like an exercise. My teacher had me apply a bass line to it while doing the voice leading in the right hand. I've also applied other apporaches (i.e. stride with voice leading). Better yet--you can use this in actual tunes--and you will be playing as a professional does. I can't tell you how happy you'll be to hear yourself voicing chords this way. I have plenty of books, and I rarely see other authors address the topic with the clarity that Mr. Ferrara does. Some ignore it altogether.
3.)Diatonic Chord Substitution: this is usable theory that is easy to understand and apply.
4.) A Complete listing of the II-7--V7--Imaj7 progression in all keys: This is fantastic practice--and critical.
5.) Spread Voicings: beautiful voicing ideas. You'll be constructing chords by spreading their notes over different registers of the piano.
6.) Secondary dominants.
7.) Improvisation note palettes.
8.) Blues progressions and scales.
9.) Tensions with an accompanying chart to show how and where to apply those 9ths, 11ths, and 13ths.
I should also mention that certain sections are designed like a workbook. You label chords, write them in note by note (great reading practice), develop progressions, understand substitutions, and more. This means you can also practice away from the piano.
For [the money], you get enough to keep you busy and entertained for a while. Mr. Ferrara's book is easily worth twice as much. I already have his second book, and it looks just as promising. I'm still working with this one, and I am so convinced of its quality that I wanted to recommend it to others who may be confused about what resources to use. You won't be sorry if you purchase this. Enjoy!
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Title: Jazz Piano & Harmony : An Advanced Guide (w/CD) by John M. Ferrara ISBN: 0970136722 Publisher: John Ferrara Music Publishing Pub. Date: 01 June, 2001 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: Building a Jazz Vocabulary: A Resource for Learning Jazz Improvisation by Mike Steinel ISBN: 0793521610 Publisher: Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation Pub. Date: 01 January, 1995 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: Tons of Runs: For the Contemporary Pianist by Andy Laverne ISBN: 094374895X Publisher: Warner Bros Pubns Pub. Date: 01 May, 1999 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: Harmonic Foundation for Jazz and Popular Music by Jimmy Amadie ISBN: 0961303506 Publisher: Thornton Publishing Pub. Date: 01 January, 1981 List Price(USD): $35.00 |
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Title: Modern Jazz Piano: A Study in Harmony by Brian Waite ISBN: 0711908419 Publisher: Music Sales Corporation Pub. Date: 01 July, 1996 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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