Not Just Another Jazz Book, Book 2: Piano Book & CD

The accompanying trio tracks transform solo practice into ensemble experience, which is exactly what pianists at this level crave. The mix of ragtime, blues, and jazz standards gives you flexibility to build a concert around one style or to showcase the breadth of jazz vocabulary across a program.

Moving through these arrangements is like touring different jazz neighborhoods. You'll feel the infectious syncopation of a red-hot rag, the introspective pull of blues changes, and the sophisticated sophistication of standards reimagined. The trio accompaniment keeps the energy conversational and alive throughout.

Pianists working toward festival participation or seeking performance experience with stylistically varied material. This book serves equally well for the student building jazz fluency and the classically trained pianist discovering how jazz harmony functions in real musical contexts.

• Start with the practice tempo recordings to lock the melodic contours and harmonic movement before attempting the performance tempo versions.
• Listen closely to the bass line; it defines the harmonic rhythm in many of these arrangements. Matching the bassist's pocket will make your comping feel intentional rather than busy.
• The blues pieces benefit from space. Resist filling every beat with left-hand accompaniment; let the silence between your phrases breathe the way a jazz trio would.
• Record yourself playing along with the tracks, then listen back. You'll hear exactly where the rhythm section is pulling or pushing, which trains your ear faster than written correction.

Book 2 works beautifully as a standalone recital or as part of a jazz-focused concert. The Federation Festival selections give you ready-made program pieces if your student is preparing for competitions, while the remaining titles let you build a casual summer concert or party event with personality.

• comping over ii-V-I progressions and blues changes
• playing triplet-based swing rhythms with consistent feel
• voicing jazz chords with left-hand bass movement
• responding to rhythmic flexibility from bass and drums
• reading syncopated melodies with accuracy and style