Jazz

[V Queen]

I'm getting hardcore into jazz lately and I really want to start playing some, I've tried some back in the day but I was younger and I didn't really get a good grasp of the type of music. so anyway anyone know some sites where I can find some decent jazz pieces to start off with?

[decadent]

Do you know Kapustin? Im really into him at the moment, I enjoy almost everything I have heard so far.  I started with his Sonatina, Op.100, and now trying the 8 concert etudes, Amazing pieces...

[andric]

https://jazzdownloads1.dinodev.com/

the site is in brazilian portugese.  you might have to scroll down the page to find the jazz tunes (at the top are brazilian tunes).  They're in pdf format.  the first time i tried, the links didn't work.  today I tried again and they worked just fine.

They are in "lead sheet" style, ie chord symbols and a melody line.  If you don't already know how to interperet chord symbols, I'd say that's your first step in learning to play jazz (thats how it's written).  To that end, there is an excellent book by Mark Levine called "the Jazz Piano Book".  It's very well laid out with the easy stuff at the beginning.  I'm serious, its an incredible book, worth every penny and more.

good luck and enjoy!

[Allan]

For me, any discussion regarding jazz begins and ends with the greatest jazz pianist (...no, make that the greatest pianist of the 20th century), the genius...Art Tatum.  Do yourself a favor and get some of his cd's.  Also, you MUST get a copy of the Art Tatum Collection (published by Hal Leonard) which is available at amazon.com.  This book contains the piano music of his great performances...believe me, even great pianists like  Horowitz and Cziffra have met their match in Tatum's technical facility!!   He represents the highest achievement in his field.    Regardless of whether one can attain to his level or not, his music making is a source of complete amazement and inspiration.

[presto agitato]

For me, any discussion regarding jazz begins and ends with the greatest jazz pianist (...no, make that the greatest pianist of the 20th century), the genius...Art Tatum. 

Mmmm he is great but in my humble opinion Keith Jarret is better.

[presto agitato]

Art Tatum is great but in my humble opinion Keith Jarret is better.

Keith Jarret:

The best jazz pianist ever
The most versatile pianist ever
The best improviser of 20th century
His recordings of Goldberg Variations and The Well Tempered Clavier are wonderful.

[Derek]

Art Tatum is great but in my humble opinion Keith Jarret is better.

Keith Jarret:

The best jazz pianist ever
The most versatile pianist ever
The best improviser of 20th century
His recordings of Goldberg Variations and The Well Tempered Clavier are wonderful.

He is one of my heroes. His improvisation isn't flawless of course...there's really only a handful of segments that I think are truly outstanding...but he's THE ONLY famous musician of the latter half of the 20th century I know of who ever did non-jazz improvisation. (speaking strictly of western music here)

[Bouter Boogie]

I know it's not 100% jazz but you can maybe start off with some piece of Gershwin? 
Me myself I luv Gershwin's music and I thinkhis music might be a sort of mix between uhmm.. classical music and jazz.. 

[markj]

Keith Jarret is the greatest jazz pianist who ever lived. There is no question in my mind about that. He is a total FREAK OF NATURE.

As for jazz piano instruction, the BIBLE is Mark Levine's simply titled "Jazz Piano."  Search for it in Google.

Best

Mark

[willfarnaby]

Art Tatum +1

[Daevren]

Jazz means improvising. If you play something from sheet music, it is never jazz. Even is its great music written by Gershwin or Kapustin.

But Gershwin actually wrote some stuff jazz people improvise on.