Billy Taylor: Piano Styles.

* Billy Taylor: Piano Styles, by Billy Taylor. Hal Leonard Corporation (www.musicdispatch.com; [phone]), 2007, 86 pp. $12.95.

If you have students serious about learning jazz, Billy Taylor: Piano Styles is definitely a "must have." It is a collection of 22 original compositions by Taylor, divided into 4 Styles: be-bop, boogie-woogie, dixieland and mambo. Taylor gives an introduction to each section explaining the nuances of a stylistically accurate performance in each style.

Many of you will know of Taylor as the jazz host of CBS Sunday Morning. He has performed with virtually every jazz great from Charlie Parker in the 1940s to the young lions of today. It is indeed a treat to have the opportunity to see these transcriptions of his compositions. What a joy to see his luscious chord voicings written out. He also explains some solo piano arranging styles such as the locked hand.

Since these are compositions as Taylor performs them, some (particularly in the Be-Bop section) require a span of a tenth. There is something here for everyone, however, and some of the pieces--especially in the mambo section, lay very naturally under the fingers of a smaller hand. The more difficult pieces are in the front of the book so be sure to look at all the selections before making a decision.

Personally, I would love for the chord symbols to be included but we can do that analysis for ourselves. Priced at $12.95, the book is truly a good value.--Reviewed by Marcia Foster Dunscomb, Tyrone, Georgia

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