The leading textbook in jazz improvisation, Creative Jazz Improvisation, Fifth Edition represents a compendium of knowledge and practice resources for the university classroom, suitable for all musicians looking to develop and sharpen their soloing skills. Logically organized and guided by a philosophy that encourages creativity, this book presents practical advice beyond the theoretical, featuring exercises in twelve keys, ear training and keyboard drills, a comprehensive catalog of relevant songs to learn, and a wide range of solo transcriptions, each transposed for C, Bb, Eb, and bass clef instruments. Chapters highlight discussions of jazz theory - covering topics such as major scale modes, forms, chord substitutions, melodic minor modes, diminished and whole-tone modes, pentatonic scales, intervallic improvisation, free improvisation, and more - while featuring updated content throughout on the nuts and bolts of learning to improvise.
New to the Fifth Edition:
Co-author Tom Walsh Additional solo transcriptions featuring the work of female and Latino jazz artists A new chapter, “Odd Meters” A robust companion website featuring additional exercises, ear training, play-along tracks, tunes, call and response tracks, keyboard voicings, and transcriptions, alongside Spotify and YouTube links to many of the featured solos
Rooted in an understanding that there is no one right way to learn jazz, Creative Jazz Improvisation, Fifth Edition explores the means and methods for developing one’s jazz vocabulary and improvisational techniques.
PART 1: THE ART OF IMPROVISATION / 1. Practicing and Performing Jazz / PART 2: DIATONIC CHORDS AND THE MODES IN THE MAJOR SCALE / 2. Major Scales and Major 7th Chords / 3. Dorian Scales and Minor 7th Chords / 4. Mixolydian and Dominant Bebop Scales, and Dominant 7th Chords / 5. The ii V I Progression and Functional Harmony / 6. Locrian and Aeolian Scales, and the iiØ7 V7♭9 i Progression / 7. Lydian and Phrygian Scales, and Major 7♭5 Chords / PART 3: CHORD SUBSTITUTIONS, HARMONIC STRUCTURES, AND FORMS / 8. The Blues Scale, the Blues Form, and Chord Substitutions / 9. Sectional Forms and Rhythm Changes / 10. Harmonic Structures and Coltrane Substitutions / PART 4: ALTERED CHORDS, DIMINISHED MODES, WHOLE-TONE SCALES, AND HARMONIC MINOR AND MELODIC MINOR MODES / 11. Diminished Scales, Fully Diminished Chords, and Dominant 7♭9 Chords / 12. Whole-Tone Scales and Augmented Chords / 13. Melodic and Harmonic Minor Scales, and Minor/Major 7th Chords / 14. Locrian #2 and Altered Scales, and Minor iiØ9 V7 ♯9♯5 i Progressions / 15. Lydian Augmented and Lydian Dominant Scales, and Major 7th ♯5 and Dominant 9th ♯11 Chords / PART 5: BEYOND FUNCTIONAL HARMONY / 16. Free Improvisation / 17. Pentatonic Scales / 18. Four-Note Groupings Derived from Pentatonic Scales / 19. Intervallic Improvisation / 20. Odd Meters / Appendix I: Intervals / Appendix II: Modes in the Major Scale / Appendix III: Modes in the Melodic Minor Scale / Appendix IV: Diatonic 7th Chords in Major Keys / Appendix V: Diatonic 7th Chords in Minor Keys / Appendix VI: Chords and Their Relationship to Scales / Appendix VII: Upper Structure or ""Slash"" Chords / Appendix VIII: Creativity and an Overview of Kenny Werner’s Effortless Mastery Method
Scott Reeves is Professor Emeritus at The City College of the City University of New York. Tom Walsh is Professor of Saxophone and Chair of the Department of Jazz Studies in the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University.
