Jazz Licks: Treble Clef Version

I'm learning improvisational piano, though I'm not primarily a pianist. I started with the blues, and I have a couple of books of "blues licks". They were the musical figures you hear all the time in blues, maybe what you might call cliches, but you start with cliches and move on to your own thing. I thought this book would be the same, but it isn't. The "licks" are like nothing I've heard in jazz, maybe they're excerpts from solos but it's not like they're anything you hear all the time. So they're tough for me to learn because they don't relate to anything I'm familiar with. I showed the book to my piano instructor, a pro jazz player, and she couldn't figure out what the book was trying to do, either. It looks like it works for some other reviewers here but it didn't give me any "quotable", familiar-sounding licks to incorporate into my playing.

I play this on the piano, along with the bass clef version, to focus on each hand while also exploring jazz melodies. The rhythmic complexity of something like the Charlie Parker omnibook can be overwhelming, but this is perfect. Thank you so much for this work Bopland! A book version of the walking basslines on your website someday would be awesome.

I was sad to find that this book does not contain licks for the ENTIRETY of each song, but ratheronly has different licks written out for the FIRST line or so of each song. I find that to be really incomplete and odd! You can learn some cool licks for the first few chord changes, but not the rest of the song?So, while this book is useful, just don't expect a fully formed solo, or licks for the entire piece, but rather, a variation of licks written out for only the *first few chord progressions* in each song.

For someone who needs the licks written out and then practice them until they sound like their own ideas then this is a great book. I think it will work well for a jazz improv class I teach.

I am a beginner on the saxophone, and I have bought a number of books so far, some of which are useful too me and some are far too advanced.This one is different in that a) It's not just for the saxophone and b) it's not a book of exercises but "licks" which will introduce the player to that wonderful "playing around the tune" skill, for which so many great jazz players are known.There are licks for 20 different well known jazz standards (like Autumn Leaves, Satin Doll, Take the A Train and Take Five) and also muscial styles such as Major and Minor II V I (2 5 1), Blues progressions and 3/4 Andalucian Cadence (I have no idea what that is!) Each tune or style has licks in wide variety of keys, and all with chord symbols.As an author myself (not music books), I am always interested to see how other books are presented. This one was a very nice suprise, partly because I wasn't expecting it to arrive so soon and partly because of the obvious quality and care put into it.It is a very substantial looking book, nearly 300 pages and beautifully printed and with a nice wipe clean cover. The quotes at the start of each section are a nice touch, and I'll be starting by reading the Forward, Performance Note and chord information, which all look to be well considered and instructive.I think it's important that any book of this type gives guidelines for its use - and this one seems to have done that, which is vital, especially for beginners.All I have to do now is learn to play the licks!

An excellent informative and entertaining collection. Logically and simply laid out for all levels and with great variety.I cannot recomment this volume highly enough.Here's to hoping there are many more in the pipeline from the same author

Clearly a labor of love by the author. Thoughtfully organized and well presented, this is a exceptionally valuable addition to my library and will provide many hours of useful practice material. A must-have for the aspiration improviser.

Excellent resource for the beginner or the experienced player. Offering great licks in many keys can be very valuable for the multi instrumentalist. I am using this in my teaching and personal practice and love the ideas it offers. Great selection of tunes that are a must for serious jazz musicians. It also offers licks for common patterns and progressions.