Brent Edstrom – Pianodao

Christmas Boogie and Jazz

Selected and reviewed by Andrew Eales
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Brent Edstrom’s stunning series of Jazz Piano Solos collections has reached its sixty seventh volume with Hal Leonard’s publication of the new Boogie Woogie Christmas.

I have previously praised several titles from this series, and in this review I am going to look at the new addition as well as recapping previous three more Christmas books in the series that I have looked at in the past, bringing them together here to help readers decide where to start and which to choose.

Together, these four cover an extraordinary amount of ground, freshly dusted with deep, crisp, and evenly festive brilliance. These Jazz Piano Solos will undoubtedly keep advanced players engaged with their superbly stylish boogie and jazzed up reimaginings of the Christmas canon…

Vince Guaraldi • Jazz Piano Solos

Pianodao Music Library

Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales
Find out more: About Pianodao Reviews

I have previously looked at a number of titles in Brent Edstrom’s superb Hal Leonard series of Jazz Piano Solos (you can read those reviews here), and the series has become the established go-to for advanced players (from around Grade 7) wanting to explore the jazz repertoire.

The latest addition to this growing resource, Volume 64 no less, is devoted to the music of the legendary Vince Guaraldi, known to many as the man behind the music in the Charlie Brown cartoons. And for those not familiar with Guaraldi’s other work, this new volume is a great entrance to discovering it…

Bill Evans • Jazz Piano Solos

Pianodao Music Library

Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales
Find out more: About Pianodao Reviews

Hal Leonard’s outstanding Jazz Piano Solos series of collections, featuring the ace arrangements of Brent Edstrom, has clocked up more than 60 volumes, showcasing music from Berlin to Bossa, from Cocktail to Coltrane.

With differing licensing rules and rights issues from one country to another however, not all are available beyond the US. As a fan of iconic jazz pianist Bill Evans, I am particularly delighted by the long-awaited arrival on these shores of Volume 19; published back in 2011, but only recently cleared for the UK market, the collection boasts 24 momentous classics from the catalogue the redefined jazz piano playing…

Jazz Piano Solos: Classical Jazz

Pianodao Music Library

Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales
Find out more: About Pianodao Reviews

I have reviewed a number of titles from Hal Leonard’s popular Jazz Piano Solos series, featuring arrangements suitable for advanced players from the pen of the indefatigable Brent Edstrom:

Christmas Boogie and Jazz

For advanced players with a penchant for boogie and jazz piano, here’s where the Christmas party starts!

Vince Guaraldi • Jazz Piano Solos

With titles running the gamut of jazz styles and legendary icons, the ‘Jazz Piano Solos’ series continues to grow from strength to strength. This collection paying homage to the genius of Vince Guaraldi is another reassuringly superb publication…

Bill Evans • Jazz Piano Solos

Ask any jazz aficionado or pianist who their favourite players and influences are, and Bill Evans’ name will undoubtedly appear in the list of the all-time greats. This book of arrangements is simply a stunning collection: I can recommend it warmly and without reservation.

Jazz Piano Solos: Classical Jazz

I’ve seen several superb publications this year, and am running short of hyperbolic compliments, but Classical Jazz is an absurdly good-natured collection.

Boogie Woogie Piano Solos

If you have long hankered after a collection of boogie woogie transcriptions that faithfully and brilliantly convey the style of this joyous music, this book really is the last word, and you need look no further…

Proving you can’t keep a good arranger down, the unstoppable Edstrom is back with Jazz Piano Solos Vol. 63, and this time he brings a classical spin to the party…

Boogie Woogie Piano Solos

Pianodao Music Library

Selected and Reviewed by Andrew Eales
Find out more: About Pianodao Reviews

Of all the jazz styles, boogie woogie surely sits at the “unabashed fun” end of the spectrum, with a musical appeal, approachable good-nature and lack of pretensions that invites classical players as well as jazz-devotees to get down and have a go.

Intermediate players who want to boogie are well catered for by the likes of William Gillock, Martha Meir and Mike Cornick, while for the advancing player Tim Richards’ Blues, Boogie & Gospel Collection (reviewed here) is a great resource.

Meanwhile, those who want to master the style at the highest level and play transcriptions of the classics will welcome the latest addition to Hal Leonard’s Jazz Piano Solos series.

Volume 60 is simply titled Boogie Woogie, and this new collection is terrific: more advanced players will absolutely love it.