Jamey Aebersold Jazz
Volume 124 Brazilian Jazz
www.jazzbooks.com

Joe Riposo
Bebop Scales & Patterns In All 12 Keys
www.jazzbooks.com

Daniel Joffe
Saxophone Secrets
www.jazzbooks.com
By George W. Harris

The latest group of releases by the venerable Jamey Aebersold has something for everyone, and is guaranteed to touch a nerve to any musical student.

Volume 124 of Aebersold’s Jazz-Play-Alongs is intriguing in that it is not a collection of the usual standards. Instead, it features fairly new Brazilian material by Renato Vasconcellos, who also plays on both the demonstration and play along tracks with Andre Vasconcellos or Romulo Duarte/b and Leander Motta/perc. I doubt anyone will be familiar with all of these songs, so the demonstration sides (with additional musicians) are essential for getting the tunes down.

Vasconcellos’ songs themselves vary from Baiaos to Sambas to Partido-altos to Afoxes, giving the musician and listener a good variety of material to learn. Besides the usual sheet music for the soloists, there is a very helpful Drum Set Reference Chart that should serve as a very helpful map for someone just getting their feet wet on this music. The mini-history and list of important Brazilian artists makes this volume complete. A good pick for someone who wants something besides Jobim.

A pair of interesting booklets are helpful for students as well. “Bebop Scales” delivers the meat and potatoes necessary to learn (and memorize) all scales with the use of the ½ step Chromatic Pattern. The whole gamut of Major, Minor, Dorian, Mixolydian and Locrian scales are exemplified here. Like long tones, this kind of stuff is dreaded for every student, but also essential. Take your medicine like a grownup, and become better for it.

For a mere 6 bucks, you just can’t go wrong with the pocket book “Saxophone Secrets” as it has a plethora of good advice for a musician at any level. I’ve been taking private lessons from the same guy who taught Michael Brecker ( I’m keeping my day job!) for years, and this book brought up issues on intonation, technique and tone that I never thought of. From buy and selling saxes to quick fix-its, this book is dynamite. The chapter on trills alone is worth 10 times the price. A steal!!!!