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  • Getting into Jazz

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    Hello fellow members...

    I really want to get more into Jazz and learn about composing in that medium. I mean, properly. I was wondering if anyone could point towards certain composers/performers (I know some of the famous great musicians but still....).

    And also if any books are worth going through? May be we can have a discussion about writing for smaller ensembles, big band kind of situation and other combinations....


    Best,
    Tanuj.
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    Pick up a copy of "Romantic Warrior" by Return To Forever.
    Listen to it constantly and you'll soon be doing the "Jazz Thing" without even knoeing it!
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    Already moved past the Classic period, Tanuj? [[;)]]
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    Hey Let throw in Dick Grove's "School Without Walls".  The Caps program is 4 semesters--but you will be a very good Jazz composer--Plus what you learn will apply to all other American styles (perhaps excluding Rap).  Your orchestral writing chops will be greatly improved.
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    Hey --- my message was edited -- Mr. Gove's first name is the nick name for "Richard"...I guess you can't print that here--very funny!
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    My favorite text for jazz arranging is "Inside the Score" by Rayburn Wright.

    He deconstructs classic to contemporary big band charts by the masters (Thad Jones, Nestico, Brookmeyer).

    THE only text you will need if you are already decent at writing for orchestra, etc.  Not for beginners.

    Smaller ensemble writing: transcribe CD's.  Best place to start: Wayne Shorter's "The Soothsayer."  The best three density writing of the sixties in a contemporary bop style.

    Also for ultra contemporary big band buy Maria Schneider's conductor's score (and CD) for "Evanessence."

    Clark
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    last edited
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    @vibrato said:

    Hello fellow members...

    Such as?

    I guess today the only way to get into big band arranging, and getting good at it, is to do it in practice with a big band. [quote=clarkcontrol]

    My favorite text for jazz arranging is "Inside the Score" by Rayburn Wright.

    He deconstructs classic to contemporary big band charts by the masters (Thad Jones, Nestico, Brookmeyer).

    Smaller ensemble writing: transcribe CD's.  Best place to start: Wayne Shorter's "The Soothsayer."  The best three density writing of the sixties in a contemporary bop style.

    Clark

    "Inside the Score" by Rayburn Wright is an excellent book. I don't think anyone can really get much out of this literature without being an experience jazz player. To understand and learn something from the compositions and arrangements presented in this book, extensive knowledge of harmony is needed, and play the arrangements (but not on the computer). As far as I know the curriculums as we learned like "Line Writing", "Arranging In The Style Of Ellington", and "Advanced Harmony" are not available for sale in book form Berklee and other music academies.

    The Wayne Shorter recording is very nice. Too bad I sold my record collection in 1981, well actually it is not

    .
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    "Inside the Score" I think can be a useful reference for an experienced orchestral arranger, not just a player. But you are correct, Angelo, that an extensive knowledge of jazz harmony is needed to fully exploit the information in the book. ---Clark
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