The Jazz Language: A Theory Text for Jazz Composition and Improvisation [Paperback]

Dan Haerle (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1982

This text presents all of the materials commonly used by the jazz musician in a logical order dictated both by complexity and need. The book is not intended to be either an arranging or improvisation text, but a pedagogical reference providing the information musicians need to pursue any activity they wish.

Product Details

• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Warner Bros Pubns (September 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0760400148
• ISBN-13: 978-0760400142
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 8.8 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #181,337 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Book !, October 6, 2000

By 

Eddie Landsberg "My 10th year as a reviewer !... (Tokyo, Japan) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Jazz Language: A Theory Text for Jazz Composition and Improvisation (Paperback)

First of all, who's Dun Hurley ? Its Dan Haerle, an incredible Jazz educator.

Up until recently, this was the GREATEST and practically only Jazz Theory book of its type. Concise... written in plain and simple English. Overwhelmed by that college music theory course..? this book was the tool to get you through. Its still just as great, though Mark Levine now has his flashy (and much bulkier) Jazz Theory Book.

What still makes this book stand out is the fact that it covers all the basics, upfront and in plain English. It doesn't delve into stylistics and performance like Mark Levine's book, but will give you a bird's a view of "Jazz Improv and Music Theory 101". If you need a crash course, this book still reigns supreme, and even alongside The Jazz Theory Book, I'd have to say, its a great starting point, and a must have for teachers.

Other recomended readings would be Jimmy Amadea's Harmonic Foundations for Jazz and Pop Music and definitely those Aebersold tapes and play-a-longs !

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the best teacher I've ever had., May 8, 2006

By 

laurieann "Laurie" (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Jazz Language: A Theory Text for Jazz Composition and Improvisation (Paperback)

Dan Haerle was one of my teachers at the University of North Texas and I can say from personal experience that this man is BRILLIANT!! I make a living as a jazz pianist and I owe much of my success to what he taught me in those classes. This book was our textbook for Jazz101. You will find this book easy to use if you have a strong musical foundation. If you are one of those people who completely plays by ear and can't read music--this book is not for you.

If you are mainly a classical pianist/musician looking to expand your abilities--BUY THIS BOOK. This book is NOT a collection of transcribed jazz arrangements--it's a book that explains, in detail, the basic concepts of jazz theory. All instrumentalists will find this book helpful.

It has in depth discussions and examples of chord voicings, jazz/blues scales, and improvisation. It also contains and explains the many terms that we musicians use to communicate quickly and efficiently in the studio or rehearsal.

If you want to learn to play jazz this book is indespensible!

BUY IT!!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must for ALL Musicians, August 18, 2000

By 

James Lovell (Garland, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Jazz Language: A Theory Text for Jazz Composition and Improvisation (Paperback)

This book is written by Dan Haerle of the University of North Texas. If you have yet to hear of the great jazz program there then perhaps you have been asleep the past several years. Haerle sets forth a comprehensive music theory and musicianship program for musicians of all levels. The first chapter begins with a basic presentation about intervals and by the time you are done with this tome you will have a good grasp of the many harmonic and scalar concepts that drive jazz. These are fundamentals, as the title suggests, that need to be in place if you wish to compose or improvise in the jazz idiom. There are study questions and excerises at the end of each chapter that are an invaluable aid for both the teacher and the student alike. If you consider yourself a 'serious' musician in any sense of that word then you ought to be ashamed if you don't own this book.