Jamey Aebersold Jazz, Volume 22: Favorite Standards: Book & Online Audio

Volume 22 collects thirteen standards that every jazz musician encounters in performance and jam sessions. The rhythm section (Haerle, Coolman, Soph) is relaxed and responsive, giving soloists room to stretch without feeling locked into a rigid tempo, and the inclusion of lyrics grounds vocalists and horn players in the lyrical intent of each tune. This is less about teaching jazz theory and more about absorbing the language through repeated listening and playing.

These standards carry the elegance and storytelling of mid-century American songwriting. Each tune has a distinct character, from the sultry introspection of "Stella by Starlight" to the swinging ease of "Tangerine," and playing through the collection exposes you to the range of harmonic and melodic language that defines the jazz repertoire.

Intermediate to advanced jazz players across all instruments and vocalists who want to build a core repertoire of standards that appear regularly in jazz clubs, jam sessions, and band arrangements. This collection is ideal for high school jazz bands, college jazz combos, and private studio instructors preparing students for real-world jazz performance.

• Listen to the full rhythm section pass multiple times before entering your solo. This grounds you in the harmonic context and the pocket without having to read every chord symbol.
• Sing the melody and lyrics aloud first. Understanding the song's narrative shapes how you phrase during your improvisation, even on instrumental standards.
• Start your first solo chorus with motifs that echo the original melody. This creates continuity and makes your improvisation feel like conversation rather than disconnection.
• Use the recorded accompaniment at different tempos if available through the online audio platform. Slowing the tempo lets you work on articulation and note choice before taking the tune at performance tempo.

Use individual standards from this collection to feature soloists in jazz band concerts, or assign specific tunes to students as semester-long improvisation projects paired with ensemble rehearsal. The included lyrics make these accessible for mixed jazz ensembles that feature both instrumentalists and singers performing the same charts.

• Improvising over ii-V-I progressions in multiple keys
• Phrasing with swing articulation and rhythm section feel
• Comping and harmonic literacy in jazz standards
• Listening and responding to live accompaniment
• Developing personal melodic vocabulary through repeated exposure
• Connecting lyrical content to improvisation choices