Review: Voicings For Jazz Keyboard by Frank Mantooth

Author: Frank Mantooth

Summary:

I've had a chance to look over this book and one of the things I dig is how Frank gives you a "rule of thumb" and then gives you applications of how to use it. A jazz piano book is almost useless without examples of how to use what you are reading about. He covers all the hip, modern voicings a pianist could ever hope to use and gives you the building blocks so you understand what makes them hip. This is a great book to expand your feel for voicings and comping until you cross over that line and voicings disolve into key centers.

This book is also a must have for anyone learning how to harmonize melodies. "Jazz Piano Book, The" by Mark Levine is great in this regard, but "Voicings For Jazz Keyboard" goes deep under the surface of melodic harmonizing and what you learn hear can not only be used for playing on stage, but also for your arranging projects.

Description (book jacket or other publisher notes):

A respected soloist, clinician and writer, Mantooth has written this book for any keyboard player interested in developing better jazz chord voicing. Written more as a 'how-to' book than a textbook, Voicings will make a valuable addition to the library of any performer, arranger, teacher or jazz theorist.

Full Book Review and Other Notes:

LJP Review by "thelonius":

Voicings deals (as its title suggests) with chord voicings (for keyboard) and with comping. Because its information is highly concentrated it requires concentrated study, but I think it more than repays such effort. The kind of voicings it teaches are contemporary, quartal-based sounds (you won't find any Teddy Wilson-style stuff, great as he was!). Official Plug: "A respected soloist, clinician and writer, Mantooth has written this book for any keyboard player interested in developing better jazz chord voicing. Written more as a 'how-to' book than a textbook, Voicings will make a valuable addition to the library of any performer, arranger, teacher or jazz theorist."

From the author:

"This book is dedicated to those of you with minimal keyboard experience. The
material herein has been organized and verbalized in a manner that will result in
better voicings overnight if the principies are assimilated and put into practice.
And, obviously, if you can help yourself, you can help your students."