The Jazz Piano Master: Piano Book

Kember constructs this collection around real jazz vocabulary rather than simplified approximations, pairing authentic techniques (close voicing, sevenths, cross rhythms) with recognizable standards and originals that motivate serious practice. The repertoire selections span multiple eras and styles, so students encounter both the harmonic language of Cole Porter and the contemporary grooves of Stevie Wonder within a coherent pedagogical framework.

Stepping into the sophisticated voicings and rhythmic flexibility of real jazz repertoire while maintaining the structured progression of a carefully designed method. The pieces carry elegance and swing without sacrificing technical clarity.

Late Intermediate piano students ready to engage seriously with jazz idioms and players transitioning from classical or popular music backgrounds who want systematic instruction in jazz-specific techniques. This book serves equally well for self-guided study or as a complement to ensemble jazz piano work.

• Listen to multiple recorded versions of the standards before learning them, paying close attention to how different pianists voice chords and voice-lead through changes.
• Practice the studies in isolation from the repertoire pieces until the specific technique (close voicing, off-beat rhythms, sequences) becomes physical and automatic.
• Record yourself performing the pieces and listen back with the score, noting where your comping needs clarity or where your sense of time against the written rhythms drifts.
• Work with a metronome at reduced tempos, then gradually increase speed only after the harmonic movement and rhythmic placement feel secure.

Assign studies from this book to piano students preparing for jazz ensemble auditions or participating in school jazz bands, since the voicing and rhythmic techniques transfer directly to ensemble comping. The standard arrangements also work well as demonstration pieces in jazz history units or as recital selections for pianists seeking credible repertoire beyond classical contexts.

• Close voicing and chord substitution on keyboard
• Cross rhythms and off-beat rhythm patterns in jazz context
• Blues variations and the harmonic sequence of sevenths
• Voice-leading through jazz chord changes
• Jazz interpretation of standards and popular compositions
• Comping independence and rhythmic flexibility