Play in the style of...
Immerse yourself in this passionate and diverse
genre, which demands musical skill©
RobertDrózdJazz
Inspirational works
Get to grips with some jazz standards
Gouache
Artist: Jacky Terrasson
Year : 2012 Label: Universal MusicThis eclectic album by the hugely
talented Jacky Terrasson features
covers of hits by John Lennon, and
Amy Winehouse. Whilst this may not
be the most original album out there,
the fusion of intricate jazz piano and
classic pop hits is too good to miss!The Girl in the
Other Room
Artist: Diana Krall
Year : 2004 Label: VerveThe extremely distinctive contralto
tones of Krall’s voice, combined with
some seductively smooth melodies,
make this an ideal album to ease you
into the many different forms of
jazz piano.The Bandwagon
Artist: Jason Moran
Year : 2010 Label: Blue Note RecordsThis incredible live recording
showcases Moran as the Jazz virtuoso
he truly is. From foot-stomping,
upbeat and hectic melodies, to
smooth urban melodies that bring
you right back to the world of 2 1st
century jazz.Twentysomething
Artist: Jamie Cullum
Year : 2003 Label: UCJ, Candid
Records, VerveJamie Cullum’s use of piano
percussion adds a whole other
dimension to his sound by tapping
out rhythms on the top of the piano,
underneath the piano, and even on
the hammers and strings.A
s it’s one of the most complex musical
genres in the world, playing jazz is
often regarded as the ultimate test
of a musician’s ability. Like the genre
in general, jazz pianists rarely stick to any musical
templates or rules – any time signature or chord
structure goes! Relatively simple chords like major
sevenths (maj7) are very common, but other
commonly used chord types of the jazz sound
include augmented sevenths and minor ninths,
which are rarely played in other types of popular
music. The one rule-of-thumb of jazz music is
that there are no rules in jazz music; pretty much
anything goes, and there isn’t much that doesn’t
belong in a jazz number.
Early on in the genre’s development, the piano
often took a leading role. This was mainly thanks
to its ability to play chords (unlike instruments
such as the trumpet) and the fact that it could
carry a bass line in addition to the melody. It is thepiano’s variety that makes it a staple of the jazz
sound. As the genre has progressed over time, so
has the instrumentation. This has led to the piano
taking more of a back seat in an ensemble – but
thanks to jazz’s unorthodox structures, even
backing parts can be slippery beasts.
Improvisation is also a significant part of jazz
piano playing. Skilled jazz pianists may eschew
sheet music in favour of playing unscripted
melodies based on the scales and arpeggios on
the chord progression of the piece. However,
these chord progressions aren’t exactly basic I-IV-
Vs, so an improvisational jazz pianist will need a
vast knowledge of chords, scales and arpeggios in
order to successfully perform.“Skilled jazz pianists may eschew sheet music in
favour of playing unscripted melodies”
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