: Analysis of jazz standards and transcriptions from legends like Bill Evans and Bud Powell. Practicality
Mark Levine had always been enchanted by the sounds of jazz. As a child, he would sneak into the local music store and listen, mesmerized, as the store owner played snippets of Bill Evans and Oscar Peterson on the piano. The complex harmonies and improvisations captivated him, and he knew from a young age that he wanted to master the instrument.
The Jazz Piano Book won’t teach you how to play piano. But if you already have some technique and want to think like a jazz pianist, there is no better single volume. Just remember—Levine gives you the map. You still have to walk the walk, one painfully slow chorus at a time.