Approaching the Standards, Volume 3: E-flat Instruments Book & Online Audio

Hill selected eight essential jazz standards for this volume, each chosen to deepen improvisation skills in a logical sequence. The pairing of online audio with written material means students hear how these tunes should swing while they work through solo opportunities, making the learning concrete and ear-driven.

Classic jazz standards from the Great American Songbook and bebop era, each with its own character. The collection moves through swing grooves, blues-influenced rhythms, and balladic textures that reflect the full spectrum of small group jazz.

E-flat players in developing jazz ensembles and jazz combo settings who are ready to build improvisation skills through standard repertoire. This book works well for alto saxophonists and other E-flat instrumentalists transitioning from reading-focused jazz charts to ear-based soloing and trading.

• Listen to the recorded accompaniment multiple times before improvising, paying attention to the comping texture and how the rhythm section drives the tune.
• Sing your solo ideas aloud before playing them; this helps clarify phrasing and ensures your lines match the tune's natural contours.
• Focus on targeting chord tones on strong beats, then fill the spaces between with approach notes and passing tones.
• Record yourself soloing over the accompaniment track and listen back to identify weak moments and spots where your phrasing can tighten.

Sequence these tunes across a semester or year of jazz ensemble rehearsals, introducing two per month to allow time for solo development. Use them in small group coaching sessions or combo rehearsals, rotating focus so different players get opportunities to front tunes and trade solos.

• Blues tonality and improvisation over ii-V-I progressions
• Phrasing and articulation appropriate to swing and ballad contexts
• Targeting chord tones while connecting with passing tones and approach notes
• Listening and responding to accompaniment texture and rhythm section timekeeping
• Building solo ideas that relate to melody and harmony of the tune
• Transposition and reading in the E-flat concert pitch equivalent