best way to learn Jazz?

[stevenpn]

Hello members,

I'm an experienced classical pianist, and have played numerous jazz transcriptions, but can't play real jazz, i.e., realize lead sheets in an idiomatically appropriate manner, create the rich arpeggiated accompaniment used by jazz players, improvise the kind of figuration expected of jazz pianists, etc.  I can read a lead sheet, but I have no idea how to embellish the chords and melody in a convincing jazz-like way.  I would prefer to learn from a book, cd-series, or website, so I can move through the program quickly and achieve a solid foundation in the next few months.  Can anyone suggest a teaching series that teaches jazz efficiently, possibly one intended for non-jazz pianists?

Thank you very much! 

[countrymath]

https://www.halleonard.com/product/viewproduct.do?itemid=290538

https://www.amazon.com/The-Jazz-Piano-Book-ebook/dp/B004KA9UWU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1307826823&sr=8-1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=sr_nr_scat_283155_ln?rh=n%3A283155%2Ck%3Ajazz+piano&keywords=jazz+piano&ie=UTF8&qid=1307826823&scn=283155&h=8df4438d981821f5e5816e01c4464e0ede811698

[stevenpn]

Thank you for recommending that literature.  Is there one you especially like among the many books?  The Mark Levine seems well reviewed, I noticed.

Thanks again,

Steven

[countrymath]

I have some friends that used the Mark Levine.

Btw, i think you should ask this on Piano World

People here are more on classical music.

[nystul]

I have the Levine book.  It is *really* comprehensive in covering the different jazz piano idioms starting from square one.  It has the information you are looking for.  But it also is meant to be used as part of a teaching program with supplementary materials.  For example one of the first things covered is 3 note voicings.  He does a very nice job of setting up a learning example with "Just Friends".  Then there is a little blurb that says "Practice Tips" which lists 14 jazz standards you should work on using 3 note voicings.  Those aren't part of the book.  So just working from the book you are kind of learning in a vacuum.  It's assumed you have access to lot of jazz recording and jazz sheets to apply the concepts in practice.

[justanoob]

youtube!

&feature=fvsr
Hal Galper's masterclass is probably one of the best advice / tips that I found. He kinda relates it with classical background pianist.

[faulty_damper]

The best way to learn jazz is not from books but from other jazz musicians, preferably very good ones.  Jazz is a social music activity requiring interacting with other musicians.  You will never get that from books.  You need to find musicians who play jazz and get together and play, even if you are relatively new.  It's like learning a language Spanish: Do you read a book on How to Speak Spanish, or do you go meet some native Spanish speakers and try to communicate with them (on a daily basis)?

[dcstudio]

Hello members,

I'm an experienced classical pianist, and have played numerous jazz transcriptions, but can't play real jazz, i.e., realize lead sheets in an idiomatically appropriate manner, create the rich arpeggiated accompaniment used by jazz players, improvise the kind of figuration expected of jazz pianists, etc.  I can read a lead sheet, but I have no idea how to embellish the chords and melody in a convincing jazz-like way.  I would prefer to learn from a book, cd-series, or website, so I can move through the program quickly and achieve a solid foundation in the next few months.  Can anyone suggest a teaching series that teaches jazz efficiently, possibly one intended for non-jazz pianists?

Thank you very much!  

my friend--I too, am a classically trained pianist.  I made the switch to jazz while at music school (as a performance major--whew, imagine who that went over)
but it took years before I really "got it."  It is so overwhelming, I know.  I teach jazz to others who are trying to do the same thing.

I'm going to tell you something that your classical brain will reject immediately, but I swear on my life to be true--you can already play jazz.  take a minute, let it set in, the problem is not in your hands but your head. at some point when you were young you sat at the piano playing by ear, when you brought your creation to your teacher she rejected it and set music in front of you. (right?)  this taught you that what you did was unimportant, and not really "playing" music. this "sound connected" neural pathway from your hands to your brain that you used to figure out "twinkle, twinkle, little star," is what you must find and use to play jazz. once you do that, all that other stuff you are worried about will just happen, naturally and easily. until you find it--the scales, chord voicings, and jazz theory will be understandable, but inapplicable.

  you already have it, no way you could be where you are if you didn't. It's old and rusty and you haven't let it out for a while--but you will get there.

DON'T GIVE UP--when the light comes on--you will be a MONSTER of JAZZ!!!!  I've seen it, I've lived it...I know.

ALSO SPRACH ZARATHUSTRA of JAZZ!!!!  

no I'm not, but it was funny  

oh..and as a bonus--once the light comes on and you see your classical music with your new jazz eyes and brain-- you will be amazed.  things get unbelievable--everything becomes SO clear and EASY!!!! (in your head mostly, but it transfers to your hands, too)

please keep posting on your progress.