Jazztastic: Tenor Sax Book & CD

Energetic and grooving, with the swing sensibility and rhythmic punch that defines tenor sax in the jazz tradition. Each tune draws you into the conversation between horn and rhythm section, making you feel like a bandmember rather than a soloist with accompaniment.

Tenor saxophonists exploring jazz repertoire for the first time, whether in school jazz band or private study. This book meets musicians at the level where they're ready to move beyond single-note melodies and engage with jazz phrasing, swing rhythm, and basic harmonic navigation.

• Listen to the accompaniment track several times before playing along, focusing on the harmonic movement and where the comping hits. This trains your ear to anticipate chord changes rather than just reading them.
• Record yourself playing over the backing track, then listen back with fresh ears the next day. You'll catch phrasing choices and rhythmic placement issues that are invisible in the moment.
• Adjust the playback tempo down during the learning phase, then gradually work back up to full speed. The CD player or digital app should allow you to change tempo without changing pitch.
• Mark your articulation and breath points on the page before you play along. Jazz articulation and tonguing patterns demand deliberate practice, not improvisation.

Use these arrangements as weekly solo or small group features in jazz band rehearsal, rotating players so multiple saxophonists get stage time. They also work well as lesson material for developing jazz reading skills in a one-on-one context.

• Reading jazz notation including swing eighths, articulation markings, and rhythmic syncopation
• Understanding harmonic movement and chord changes on the tenor sax
• Phrasing and articulation specific to jazz melody playing
• Matching feel and swing rhythm to a rhythm section
• Listening to and responding to accompaniment while playing