Jamey Aebersold Jazz, Volume 75: Countdown to Giant Steps: Book & Online Audio

LaVerne's genius here is recognizing that Giant Steps and Countdown aren't mysteries to be solved through years of transcription; they're patterns that can be learned systematically. The inclusion of standards with Giant Steps harmony substituted gives students immediate, practical vocabulary they can apply to repertoire they already know.

The progression from primer to full tune mirrors the satisfaction of finally decoding something that seemed impossibly fast. LaVerne's rhythm section (Andy LaVerne on piano, John Patitucci on bass, Steve Davis on drums) swings with clarity and precision, making every harmonic substitution audible and musical rather than theoretical.

Advanced jazz students and working musicians who understand basic chord changes but want to master the harmonic concepts that define Giant Steps and Countdown. This is essential for saxophonists, trumpet players, pianists, and bassists serious about modern jazz vocabulary.

• Start with the primer tracks on the second CD before tackling the main tunes. These foundational exercises isolate the harmonic movement in manageable chunks.
• Use the varied tempos in the audio to build confidence. Begin slow, lock the changes mentally, then gradually push the pace as the cycle becomes automatic.
• Study how the chord substitutions reshape familiar standards. Listening critically to the rhythm section's response reveals how the harmony dictates the comping and bass movement.
• Work the changes vertically on your instrument first, drilling the voice leading before attempting to play through entire changes at tempo.

Assign this as focused woodshed material during a unit on jazz harmony and chromaticism, or use it as a summer preparation tool before an advanced jazz ensemble digs into modern repertoire. The standards-with-substitution tracks work beautifully in jam sessions or as vehicles for demonstrating how understanding harmony opens interpretive possibilities.

• Voice leading through rapid harmonic changes
• Recognizing and executing chord substitutions in familiar contexts
• Navigating Giant Steps and Countdown changes at various tempos
• Understanding the relationship between harmony and rhythm section comping
• Transposing harmonic concepts across keys and instruments