The Jazz Theory Book Mark Levine on Amazon.com.FREE. shipping on qualifying offers. Endorsed by Jamey Aebersold, James Moody, Dave Liebman,.
I'm giving this three stars because, depending on what you're expecting it deserves either 5 or 0.
If you are a relatively accomplished pianist with an understanding of theory, command of scales etc. this is an excellent compendium of jazz knowledge. Even so, it's more of a guide book than an actual method. For example, it might ht take months to digest and apply what's in the first chapter.
If you're a relative beginner and want a book to get you started playing jazz piano, I would not advise. This book assumes you have a lot of knowledge already.
This is not a method book by traditional definitions. As a piano teacher, I define a method as having short, easily digestible modules delivering information and giving you songs to practice those skills. This book delivers the information densely, then turns you loose to practice, more or less on your own. As an analogy, imagine a book on woodworking explaining how to make various joints, then instructing: 'Okay, go build a bookcase, two desks and three china cabinets.'
All that said, if you do want to get serious about jazz piano, this book is indispensable.
If you are a relatively accomplished pianist with an understanding of theory, command of scales etc. this is an excellent compendium of jazz knowledge. Even so, it's more of a guide book than an actual method. For example, it might ht take months to digest and apply what's in the first chapter.
If you're a relative beginner and want a book to get you started playing jazz piano, I would not advise. This book assumes you have a lot of knowledge already.
This is not a method book by traditional definitions. As a piano teacher, I define a method as having short, easily digestible modules delivering information and giving you songs to practice those skills. This book delivers the information densely, then turns you loose to practice, more or less on your own. As an analogy, imagine a book on woodworking explaining how to make various joints, then instructing: 'Okay, go build a bookcase, two desks and three china cabinets.'
All that said, if you do want to get serious about jazz piano, this book is indispensable.