David Baker's Arranging and Composing for the Small Ensemble: Jazz, R & B, Jazz Rock [Paperback]

David Baker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1988

This professional manual lets you share the secrets of David Baker's success. Baker explains his practical working techniques for piano trio, jazz quartet, four- and five-part writing, chord substitutions, voicings, bass patterns and much more.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Alfred Publishing Co., Inc.; Revised edition (January 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0882844695
• ISBN-13: 978-0882844695
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 8.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #264,638 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for the musically trained., June 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: David Baker's Arranging and Composing for the Small Ensemble: Jazz, R & B, Jazz Rock (Paperback)

I agree with Quincy Jones, who wrote the forward, that this is a great book. It is not for just anyone. You must have a good grasp of chords and some knowledge of arranging and composing before you can understand it. You don't study from a master of any art if you don't have a good foundation on the subject. I found it very helpful and extremely informative. It will take you a long time to absorb all the info in this great book. I've had the book for several years and still refer to it. Thank you David for your taking the time to write this book. M. Oglesby

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Book For An Excellent Reader, September 10, 2003

By 

"bassam1981" (Lebanon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: David Baker's Arranging and Composing for the Small Ensemble: Jazz, R & B, Jazz Rock (Paperback)

The book is great! Although Jazz doesn't follow rules ,Baker has written some wonderful thumb rules that ,in my opinion , will simplify writing & practising Jazz.

the book is a step-by step book . first , you get to know the instruments charactaristics,their scoring ..etc .second,the melody line.third, the accompany chord.fourth , the piano trio..etc

I am carefully studying the book , page by page. Every lesson needs a sufficient time to practise (through writing & playing). Until now , it has strengthened my sense of composing and made it more articulate.

it might take you some time to get used to it.. but hey it's great if you adore JAZZ!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reference book, November 20, 2002

By 

A.B. Harris (Como, WA Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: David Baker's Arranging and Composing for the Small Ensemble: Jazz, R & B, Jazz Rock (Paperback)

You will need some musical study behind you to suss out what is going on here. David Baker has choosen to include a great wealth of information in this text, and readibility at time suffers. Suggest that you have already read something like Mark Levine's jazz theory book before taking this on. There is no padding here or much in the way of explanatory notes, the book is mainly in point form with some musical examples (a study of these is probably more useful than further explanation in any case). As a professional musician and band leader of working small ensembles, I have found this work to be invaluable, giving me more practical tools and options to work with. Well worth the money.