Coltrane Changes Sneak Peek!

"Coltrane Changes" NEW!-

This book is designed for intermediate to advanced jazz improvisers.
Full of exercises and Jazz Etudes (Improv Etudes) over John Coltrane's compositions "Giant Steps", "Countdown" and "26-2" for Eb and Bb instruments

Available in December 2008 as a Digital Download and in Print

Download "Play Jazz Now" Rhythm Tracks and practice with them!

Click here for "Trane Trax"

Hi!, the feedback I've been getting for "Coltrane Changes" has been great and some are already wanting to "pre-order". The book is almost done but waht I will do right now is give you a free taste. You can download the first 2 choruses of a Jazz Etude on "Giant Steps".

Click here for the Jazz Etude on Giant Steps for Alto Sax.

Click here for the Jazz Etude on Giant Steps for Tenor Sax.

Note: The Jazz Etudes are not identical. The are written to suite each instrument well. Have fun!



By the way, that reminds me. Some time ago I checked out some play alongs from Hal Leonard Publishing. They have a jazz series on different styles and artists. On a positive note, they include tracks where the melody is played along side a track with just the rhythm section. This is good for people who may not be familiar with some tunes and/or not sure of their rhythmic reading.



On a negative note, not only do I find the tracks a bit short (only 2 to 4 choruses, in some cases only 1), but I had to discover that some of the melodies were incorrect. That should NEVER happen!

Anyway, I checked out what they had on Coltrane. They had a nice pick of tunes, but "Giant Steps" and "Countdown" are only recorded at break-neck tempos. No chance for anyone trying to learn the tunes for the first time and want to get their feet wet. What were they thinking? Do they really believe that anyone who buys their play alongs will be able to play those tempos right away? Those recordings are a sad testament to a publisher who's just out to make a buck, but not really provide helpful materials for students of improvisation.



That gives me even more reason to give props to Bill Harrison of PlayJazzNow.com. His new play alongs Trane Trax gives you Coltrane's "Giant Steps"three times! - As a slow bossa, a medium tempo swing, and as an uptempo swing. That is a system you can really learn with!