Reading Jazz: Trumpet Book & Online Audio

This book acknowledges a real tension in jazz education: many excellent classical players hit a wall when they encounter swing eighths and jazz articulation because no one taught them the rhythmic language. Rizzo's graduated approach means students aren't drowning in unfamiliar concepts all at once. The inclusion of a professional rhythm section on the audio tracks gives every player a genuine ensemble experience, not a click track.

Methodical and encouraging. The progression from simple to complex never feels tedious because each exercise has a purpose. You build confidence in swing feel, triplet-based rhythms, and syncopation gradually, and the professional accompaniment makes every page feel like a real performance opportunity.

Classically trained trumpeters ready to enter the jazz world. This works equally well for self-study or as a supplementary text in a jazz ensemble where students need additional rhythm-reading work outside rehearsal.

• Listen to the recorded examples first before reading the exercises. Train your ear to recognize the rhythmic figures aurally before decoding them on the page.
• Play the duets with a partner whenever possible. The interplay between parts reveals phrasing and time feel in ways solo practice cannot.
• Record yourself playing the written exercises, then compare your swing feel and rhythmic accuracy to the professional track. The difference is instructive.

Assign this as homework for jazz ensemble members who need targeted rhythm instruction without removing rehearsal time from full-ensemble work. You can also use it as a prerequisite text before students join the jazz band, ensuring everyone arrives with basic jazz vocabulary already in place.

• Reading and executing swing eighth notes
• Recognizing and playing common jazz rhythmic figures (triplet-based syncopation, dotted rhythms)
• Interpreting jazz articulation markings and stylistic directions
• Listening to and locking in with a rhythm section
• Transferring classical reading skills to jazz notation and phrasing