CONTENTS INTRODUCTION Three Steps ........ Ronoooosnodonend 4 Results 2.0... . cece eee eee eee eee 4 ANALYSES Voice-Leading Phrase-Linking Sequences .. ETUDES All the Things You Are ............... 12 Beautiful Love ........... wee eee 15 Easy to Love . A Foggy Day . How About You . How High the Moon IShould Care ..........05 we BS Just Friends .......-.0 eee eee eee 38 Long Ago and Far Away ...... ween AT Minor Blues ......- 0.0200 e eee eee 44 Rhythm Changes ........ Bpaoeonooe 46 Softly as in a Morning Sunrise ........ « AQ What Is This Thing Called Love ........! 52 About the Author/DiscographyMICHAEL ORTA Jazz pianist Michael Orta has been very active on the jazz scene. He recorded two albums with his Jjazz/fusion grcup The Wave on the Atlantic Jaz record label displaying his skil as a composer. In 1991, Michae! toured as pianist for the Arturo Sandoval group as well as recording on Sandoval’s American debut album on GRP, Flight to Freedom. Michael released his debut album, Freedom Tower on the Fantasy/Contemporary label. In 1993, he was chosen as one of five finalists In the prestigious Great American Jazz Piano Competition. The following year, Michael spent the year touring and recording with the Paquito D’Rivera group performing concerts and clubs in Trinidad, Curagao, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Pars, Germany, Switzeriand, Poland, Romania, Greece, Holland, and Slovenia. Michael is currently assistant professor and director of jazz performance at Florida International University, teaching jazz piano and jazz improvisation, and directing both jazz and salsa ensembles. He is a contiibuting author for Jazz Pedagogy: The Jazz Educator's Handbook and Resource Guide published by Warner Bros, Publications, In addition, Michael has also been an active clinician, sharing his musical knowledge and philosophies with music students in the U.S., Europe, Aftica, and South America. SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY 2002 Pan Con Bistec (Breezewave) 1998 Atfo-Cuba (Nascente) 2001 Misty (Sony International) 1995 GRP Christmas Collection, Vol. 2 (GRP) 2001 Latin Like That (Sony International) 1995 Mestizo (Sony International) 2000 Ritmo Jazz Lattino (Breezewave) 1998 40 Years of Cuban Jazz Sessions (Messicor) 1999 Random Hearts (Sony) 1998 Intersection (Contemporary) 1998 Salsa Jazz (Max Music) 1998 A Night in Englewood (Messidor) 1998 The Wave (Attantic) 1992 The Dreamer (GRP) 1997 Latin Jazz Highlights (Messicor) 1991 Flight to Freedom (GRP) 197 Latin Jazz for Lovers (Messicor) 1990 Dance of the Phoenix (Verve/Forecast) 1996 Double Tak Sony Intemational) 1990 Morning Ride (Verve/Forecast) 1996 Freedom Tower (Contemporary) 1989 Second Wave (Atlantic) 1996 United Nations of Messidor (Messidor) ACKNOWLEDGMENTS To John Georgine, Whit Sidener, Vince Maggio, and Richard Dunscomb for giving me the tools and wisdom that allowed me to write this book, To Fredrick Kaufman, chair of the school of music at Florida International University, for your continued support and help. To my family, Ileana, Andrew, and David for supporting me through the long hours and late nights. And finally, to my mother father, and brother, who have influenced every aspect of my life. | now that without your love and guidance none of this could ever have happened. Thank you! Web site: http://www. flu.edu/~ortarn/ E-mail: [email protected] 4INTRODUCTION The following 15 jazz etudes are written for the intermediate to advanced jazz piano student. The goal of this book is to develop and improve a jazz piano solo through analysis. Each etude is based on a jazz standard melody followed by two or more choruses of improvisation. These etudes will positively affect the pianist’s musical concepts and choice of notes when improvising. Keep in mind, however, that these 15 etudes are not a substitute for many other valuable jazz education tools, including solo transcription, As with any book, the rules specified are general ideas used to set parameters for the student. After the concepts are learned, the rules become less important. This book assumes that the pianist has some knowledge of chord scale theory. For the most effective use of this book, follow these three steps, Three Steps to Using Jazz Etudes for Piano First Step: Learn the Melody The written melody of each etude tune is rephrased so that It swings, .e., embellished with certain rhythmic, harmonic, and melodic liberties just as one would approach the tune If playing it on a gig, It is essential that the pianist understand how the melodies were embellished by first learning the melody exactly as written by the composer, A good fake book or real book will have these melodies written as the composer intended. Second Step: Analyze the Etudes Discover how to analyze the improvisation etude by focusing on three key elements voice-leading, phrase-linking, and sequences. To demonstrate the analysis process, each of these three elements of analysis is discussed below and examples are provided to demonstrate their application. Third Step: Practice the Etudes Play through the etudes slowly and thoroughly, and pay close attention to playing with a swing-feel, correct articulations, and fingerings, which are intentionally not provided, Gradually increase the tempo to the suggested tempo marking. Results Following these three steps will significantly build the harmonic, melodic, and rhythmic jazz vocabulary. As with any skil, itis when these concepts are internalized that they become a part of the vocabulary. Using internalized jazz vocabulary to create an effective solo is the point when a soloist can begin to create and improvise. It is essential for the aspiring improviser to understand the significance of internalizing jazz vocabulary. The term internalize means that the pianist will know these concepts so well that he or she is not consciously thinking about them while playing. After learning the melody, studying the sample analyses, and practicing the etudes, the pianist will have an understanding of concepts and an improved jazz vocabulary that will help develop and improve an improvised solo, Make these etudes a part of a daily practice routine and enjoy.