Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12754 in Books
• Published on: 1997-11-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 262 pages

From the Author
More info about the book
Not to be confused with a book of the same title by M Mann, Improvising Blues Piano was written for the intermediate pianist and contains over 60 pieces including well-known standards such as Ain't No Sunshine, Bag's Groove, Blue Monk, Got My Mojo Workin', Honky Tonk Train Blues, How Long Blues, Pine Top's Boogie Woogie, St Louis Blues, etc.. along with pieces by the author, tips, assignments, licks, improvisation suggestions, etc...

All the pieces are included on the accompanying CD which also features some "play-along" tracks.

All styles of blues are covered from Boogie Woogie, Chicago and New Orleans, to Swing, Funk, Gospel and Jazz.

Each chapter focuses on a particular type of chord, beginning with major triads, and ending with 9th, 13th, and diminished chords, presented in a logical and easy to follow to fashion.

The book also contains 20 full page photos of blues pianists from Jimmy Yancey to Dr John, and a comprehensive discography.

Reviews have been very positive. Here is a selection:

JOOLS HOLLAND: "The essential book for all blues pianists"

BLUES REVUE (USA): "I highly recommend the book - it's the best I've seen yet"

MOJO: "The presentation is immaculate, the method is logical and friendly, with everything clearly demonstrated on the CD."

BRIAN PRIESTLEY - JAZZWISE MAGAZINE: "This book leaves any possible competition standing at the post."

MICHAEL GARRICK: "Beautifully presented, it has clarity, heart and comprehensiveness."

Customer Reviews

The best and most comprehensive book on learning blues piano
I have bought a large number of books on learning to play blues piano. This book is by far the best, taking you logically and progressively through the theory and its application. It also includes a CD of all the tracks in the book. Don't expect to find this book easy if you're not at an intermediate level to start with. Persevere and it won't be long be you can play the blues....

A must for blues piano lovers!
Good books about blues piano are hard to find.
After a long search, I finally found this gem !
Most of all, it enables any intermediate player to get to another level of playing in a very enjoyable and useful way.
Enjoyable, because it contains a rich variety of classic blues pieces, representing a wide range of blues styles. A good contribution to enrich the performing student's repertoire.
Useful, because it enables any player to really understand and use all those sophisticated chords ( 9#, 13, etc.), opening doors (and ears !) to the aspiring jazz pianist.

Ignore the above review
The guy above reviewing the book obviously didn't give it the time of day and has written a potentially damaging review about something he knows nothing about.

The writer of this book instructs and encourages ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO IMPROVISE AND CREATE YOUR OWN PIECES.

Yes he gives songs and musical transcripts to play, they are simple at first and get progressively longer and more complicated once the principles have been well practised. But they are simply starting points for his instructions on the same page. You need a context to learn in and he has provided lots of them.

He teaches you to teach yourself, there is ample opportunity to learn and improvise and do your own stuff throughout right from the beginning. I was excited at my progress after th efirst two pages of the book and it never tapered off now I've worked through two and a half chapters.

He even teaches you how to create your own solos and gives well-used 'devices' to make something sound good, that starts right from page 1. These devices were used by professional blues performers even to this day.

The writer himself is a performer, and is a teacher at an established music school. He uses his teaching experience in the book that much is obvious. Don't buy any other book but this one because it's well deserved.

This book is something marvellous. I knew nothing before I started, I have learned more from this book in 7 months than I have in 8 years of tinkering around myself.