The Jazz Piano Book

by Mark Levine

We recommend this book for anyone who is interested in acquiring the basics of contemporary jazz piano playing. Written by Marc Levine, who also wrote The Jazz Theory Book, this exceptional text has complete chapters on intervals and triads, the major modes and II-V-I, 3-note voicings, sustain and phrygian chords, adding notes to 3-note voicings, Tritone substitutions, left-hand voicings, block chords, comping and more.

All the concepts are introduced with musical examples supplemented by well-thought-out and engaging explanations. There are dozens of musical exercises and lists of suggested jazz standards for applying them. And this book is spiral bound so it stays put on your music stand.

Mark Levine, long-time pianist with Carl Tjader, is a Concord Jazz record artist who has recorded with such jazz greats as Camen McRae, Richie Cole, Houston Peason, Joe Henderson, Mark Murphy and many others.

Check out some of the numerous endorsements by jazz legends:

"Applause for one of the truly fine pianists of our time for putting his vast expertise, experience and musicality into book form." -- Art Lande

"One of the most complete anthologies on jazz piano in recent years. The research and attention to detail, the nuances and musical examples in each chapter are most refreshing, as are the photos. Stylistically covering artists from Teddy Wilson through Mulgrew Miller, in a way that has rarely been dealt with in other jazz piano literature."
-- James Williams

"The Jazz Piano Book is a comprehensive text (with) in-depth explanations supported by many superb musical examples in every chapter. A comprehensive text (with) smooth progress from easy material to more advanced techniques." -- Jazz Educators Journal

"This book comes closer than any other book I have yet come across to giving the student an insight into the art, and needs, of playing modern jazz piano. With the comprehensive exploration of all the basic techniques in common use that this book offers, along with the inclusion of chapters on such important and often overlooked areas as comping and Latin Jazz, I think this book deserves a place on every modern jazz teacher's bookshelf." -- Mike Nock