The Jazz Real Book

48- "Butterfly" and Herbie Hancock Standards Rating 5, Difficulty Rating 5  Herbie Hancock, a legendary jazz pianist and composer, is known for his groundbreaking contributions across jazz, funk, and electronic music. After early classical training and jazz studies, he rose to prominence with Miles Davis' Second Great Quintet and as a solo artist on albums like Maiden Voyage and Empyrean Isles . I...

Naomi Moon Siegel               Naomi Moon Siegel is an award-winning trombonist, improviser, composer, and educator committed to creating a positive, transformative music culture beyond conventional genre norms. Her original musical vocabulary draws on the richness of various global musical traditions. Siegel explores the trombone as a vehicle for sonic expression colored by breath, spit, and phy...

Warren Wolf’s History of the Vibraphone pays tribute to 11 legendary vibe players, including Lionel Hampton, Gary Burton, and Dave Samuels, presenting a deep dive into the vibraphone’s jazz legacy. Starting in classical music under his vibraphonist father’s guidance, Wolf trained on vibraphone, marimba, xylophone, drums, and piano from a young age in Baltimore. Influenced by his dad’s extensive ja...

46 - “But Beautiful” and Stan Getz Standards Rating 7 -Difficulty Rating 6 “But Beautiful,” composed by Jimmy Van Heusen with lyrics by Johnny Burke in 1947, is a classic ballad celebrated for its lyrical melody and complex harmonic progressions. The song’s 32-bar form in G major features rich ii-V movements and subtle key shifts that add a sense of harmonic intrigue. Notable recordings include re...

45-“Broadway” and Oscar Peterson  Standards Rating 6 Difficulty Rating 4 Oscar Peterson, a virtuoso jazz pianist from Montreal, was known for his swift, intricate runs and rhythmic precision, drawing influence from Art Tatum and Nat King Cole. His style and mastery shone especially in trio settings, often alongside bassist Ray Brown and guitarist Herb Ellis. Peterson's collaborations with Norman G...

45-“Broad Way Blues” and Ornette Coleman  Standards Rating 5 Difficulty Rating 6  Ornette Coleman was a pioneering jazz figure known for breaking traditional boundaries with his radical approach to improvisation and composition. His 1959 album The Shape of Jazz to Come introduced free jazz, where he abandoned chord changes and rigid structures, allowing musicians more freedom. His work at New York...

44- Bright Size Life and Jaco Pastorius  Standards Rating 6 Difficulty Rating 7  In this episode, we look at “Bright Size Life,” the standout title track from Pat Metheny’s 1976 debut album of the same name, and the life and career of Jaco Pastorius, the man who redefined electric bass playing in jazz.  The track is a masterful blend of jazz, folk, and rock, featuring Metheny’s signature open chor...

Charlie Burnham Interview Charlie Burnham is an accomplished American violinist, singer, and composer celebrated for his imaginative and eclectic style. Burnham traverses multiple genres, including bluegrass, folk, free jazz, blues, classical, and chamber jazz. His innovative use of the wah-wah pedal on the violin adds a distinctive flair to his performances. Burnham first gained prominence throug...

43-Boplicity, Gil Evans and The Birth of The Cool  Standards Rating 6, Difficulty Rating 7  "Boplicity," from Birth of the Cool (1957), marks a key moment in jazz history; composed by Miles Davis under the pseudonym Cleo Henry and Gil Evans, Originally recorded in 1949, the track exemplifies the shift from bebop's fast-paced intensity to cool jazz's more relaxed, refined sound. Featuring a unique...

Kurt Rosenwinkel, a Philadelphia-born jazz guitarist, is renowned for blending genres and using guitar effects innovatively in jazz. His latest release, The Next Step Band (Live at Smalls, 1996) , revisits the music from his acclaimed 2001 album The Next Step and features longtime collaborators Mark Turner, Ben Street, and Jeff Ballard. In addition to his album, Rosenwinkel has published Kurt Rose...

42- “Body and Soul” and Coleman Hawkins  Standards Rating 8- Difficulty Rating 7  Coleman "Hawk" Hawkins was a pioneering jazz tenor saxophonist who transformed the instrument into a key vehicle for jazz improvisation. Born in Missouri in 1904, Hawkins began playing saxophone in his teens and joined Mamie Smith's Jazz Hounds in 1921. His breakthrough came in 1924 when he joined Fletcher Henderson'...

Brian Bromberg, a virtuoso bassist, honors the legacy of Scott LaFaro with his latest album, LaFaro , and a series of live performances. LaFaro, who tragically died at 25, was a groundbreaking bassist with the Bill Evans Trio, inspiring Bromberg's tribute. Initially reluctant to take on the project due to the pressures of honoring a jazz legend, Bromberg eventually embraced it after realizing LaFa...

41- "Bluesette" -Toots Thielemans   Standards Rating of 8-  Difficulty Rating  7   "Bluesette," composed by Toots Thielemans in 1964, is a celebrated jazz standard recognized for its memorable melody and intricate harmonic structure. This 24-bar jazz waltz features wide intervallic leaps and recurring rhythmic motifs, creating a captivating listening experience. Thielemans, a renowned Belgian harm...

40- “Blues for Alice” and Red Rodney  Standards Rating 7 Difficulty Rating 6 Charlie Parker's "Blues for Alice" is a landmark bebop composition that reimagines the 12-bar blues with angular melodies and intricate syncopation. Parker introduces harmonic complexity by incorporating II-V progressions and other substitutions, creating a sophisticated yet grounded piece. Trumpeter Red Rod...

39- “Blue Train” and Lee Morgan  Standards Rating 7, Difficulty Rating 3   "Blue Train," the title track from John Coltrane's 1958 album Blue Train , is a defining piece of hard bop jazz. The composition is a 12-bar blues in the key of Eb, featuring sophisticated harmonic alterations like #9 and #11 chords, which add modern tension to the traditional blues structure. The melody is si...

38- “Blue Room” and Tommy Dorsey  Standards Rating 5, Difficulty Rating 6  "Blue Room," written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart for the 1926 Broadway musical The Girl Friend , is a classic show tune known for its romantic lyrics and cozy imagery. The song has a straightforward 32-bar AABA structure and features harmonic complexity with modulations, offering a rich canvas for jazz impr...

Buster Williams, a legendary jazz bassist, composer, and instructor, has played on numerous records with iconic musicians like Herbie Hancock, Chet Baker, Art Blakey, and Stan Getz, among others. Known for his work as both a sideman and a bandleader, Williams continues to inspire audiences with his performances and compositions. On September 28th, he will perform with his quartet at the Middlesex...

37- Blue Monk and Thelonious Monk Standards Rating 9 Difficulty Rating 5  Thelonious Monk, a pioneering jazz pianist and composer, was instrumental in developing bebop. Born in 1917, he was known for his unique style of dissonance, unusual harmonies, and inventive rhythmic approaches. Despite initial skepticism, Monk's work eventually earned him recognition as one of jazz's most influentia...

36- “Blue in Green” and Kind of Blue Standards Rating 7 Difficulty Rating 6 "Blue in Green," a track from Kind of Blue (Columbia Records 1959), is a unique piece whose authorship has been questioned as it is sometimes credited to Miles Davis and/or Bill Evans. The song creates a lush, ethereal sound by featuring a 10-bar form and employing Dorian, Mixolydian, and Lydian modes. The musici...

35-“Blue Bossa” and Kenny Dorham  Standards Raitng 9, Difficulty Rating 5  "Blue Bossa," composed by Kenny Dorham, is a quintessential jazz standard blending Brazilian samba with jazz. Joe Henderson first recorded it on his 1963 album Page One , where Dorham's trumpet style is showcased. The piece exemplifies Dorham's ability to merge melodic development with harmonic sophisticat...

Alvester Garnett Interview Alvester Garnett is a top-tier jazz drummer, celebrated for his swing, passion, and professionalism. His career began in Richmond, Virginia, where early influences included Ellis Marsalis and the jazz program at Virginia Commonwealth University. After moving to New York, Garnett quickly made a name for himself, working with legends like Betty Carter and Abbey Lincoln. He...

34-“Black Orpheus” and Charlie Byrd  Standards Rating 9 Difficulty Rating 5 “Black Orpheus” or "Manhã de Carnaval," composed by Luiz Bonfá for the 1959 film Black Orpheus (Orfeu Negro) , is a foundational bossa nova piece that became a jazz standard. The song, characterized by its 32-bar structure in A minor with sophisticated harmonic progressions, blends simplicity with elegance. Charl...

"Black Nile" from Wayne Shorter's 1964 album Night Dreamer showcases his innovative jazz composition style. The track blends traditional and modern elements, following a 32-bar AABA form in D minor with complex harmonies. Shorter’s and Lee Morgan’s solo navigates the piece’s narrative, with Tyner and Jones adding dynamic intensity. Elvin Jones's powerful drumming, noted for its p...

32- “Black Narcissus” and Joe Henderson  Joe Henderson, a brilliant saxophonist born in 1937, melded traditionalism and experimentalism in his music. His 1969 track "Black Narcissus," from the album Power to the People , exemplifies his innovative style. The 24-bar tune in ¾ time features an AB form, with the A section lasting 16 bars and the B section 8 bars. Its melodic simplicity and...

31-“Black Diamond” and Roland Kirk “Black Diamond” is a lesser-known Real Book tune heavily associated with Roland Kirk, later known as Rahsaan Roland Kirk. A groundbreaking American jazz multi-instrumentalist born on August 7, 1935, Kirk was blind from infancy and mastered multiple instruments. He was renowned for his ability to play them simultaneously using circular breathing. His music, which...