Wedgwood Blue: Piano Book & CD

Wedgwood Blue stands out because it treats the intermediate pianist as a serious musician, not a student still learning the basics. The recorded accompaniments are genuinely sophisticated, not simplified play-along tracks, which means students hear themselves in a real ensemble context and develop their ears accordingly.

Wedgwood Blue captures the restless creativity of contemporary jazz, it doesn't sit in one mood. You shift between the cool sophistication of a modern ballad, the loose swagger of honky tonk, the soulful patience of blues, and the forward motion of Latin styles. Each piece feels like stepping into a different room in a sophisticated jazz club.

Pianists who have moved past beginner method books and want to explore jazz in an organized, stylistically varied way. This collection works equally well for students in formal jazz piano study and for self-taught players hungry for material that respects their growing musicianship.

• Listen through the CD recordings multiple times before touching the keyboard. Notice how the rhythm section breathes, where soloists enter and exit, and how the groove sits in each style. This trains your ears to play with ensemble awareness rather than just reading notes.
• Attack the Latin pieces first if swing feel isn't yet second nature. The straightforward rhythms in these arrangements will build your confidence with the comping and bass patterns before you tackle the more nuanced swing figures.
• Record yourself playing along with the backing tracks, then listen back with fresh ears. You'll catch timing issues and dynamic choices that feel invisible in the moment of playing.
• Let the blues and honky tonk pieces teach you about rubato and space. These styles thrive on laying back slightly and finding pockets within the beat, not racing ahead of the accompaniment.

Use individual pieces as recital selections throughout the year rather than as a through-composed program. A single ballad works beautifully on a classical recital; a blues number fits perfectly on a jazz showcase; the Latin pieces can anchor an ensemble concert. The 32-page length and variety also make this ideal for intermediate students who need a core repertoire book that doesn't pigeonhole them into one style.

• Swing eighth-note feel and placement relative to the beat
• Jazz chord voicings and reharmonization choices
• Blues form navigation and comping variations
• Latin rhythm patterns and clave relationships
• Solo development over chord changes
• Listening and responding to recorded ensemble accompaniments
• Stylistic interpretation across ballad, blues, honky tonk, and Latin contexts