Reviews & Endorsements

Complete JAZZ Styles

Endorsements

SAXOPHONE ETUDE & DUET BOOKS: "For the young musician, Randy Hunter has put together a well thought out, comprehensive series of jazz study books dealing with the feeling of music. How things should be played and studied melodically, rhythmically and harmonically from an early age, which is the key to developing one's own approach to improvisation and ensemble playing. These books: Introductory Etudes & Duets Book 1 are not just filled with exercises and patterns for a change! Thanks Randy."

Mr. Joe Lovano

Internationally Known Jazz Musician  Blue Note Recording Artist     Gary Burton Chair in Jazz Performance Berklee College of Music

TROMBONE ETUDE BOOK 1: "Well done! The text is very practical, well rounded, and well organized... The brief written explanations of style are concise, understandable and practicle.. .Any student familiar with these styles who has practiced with this text will be ready for real life experience in a band."

Dr. Robert Lindahl

Professor of Music  Jazz Studies  Central Michigan University

SAXOPHONE ETUDE BOOK 1 & DUET BOOK 1:

“These books by Randy offer a very playable series of exercises. Providing a solid foundation in various feels and concepts, these books are also fun for the student. As a professor who makes his living teaching, I have found if it isn’t fun, its like ‘pushing a rope’. These Etudes and Duets by Randy Hunter are right on the money.

Denis DiBlasio

Director of Jazz Studies Rowan University New Jersey

Executive Director of the Maynard Ferguson Institute of Jazz Studies

TROMBONE ETUDE BOOKS 1 & 2: "Randy Hunter's 'Complete Jazz Styles' books give young players a great introduction to interpreting jazz rhythms and phrasing, as well as a fun way to develop their concept and style. The rhythm section tracks give students a chance to feel what it's like to play with the pros.  A welcome addition to any jazz educator's library."

John Fedchock

New York City jazz & recording artist

King trombone clinician

Leader, John Fedchock New York Big Band

SAXOPHONE ETUDE BOOK 1 & DUET BOOK 1: “I am happy to recommend Randy Hunter’s “Complete Jazz Styles” Duet & Etude books. These books are well conceived and will help middle to high school age saxophonists working to learn about jazz concepts. The accompanying CD’s help the learning experience. The Etudes CD has fun rhythm section grooves and the Duets CD has BOTH parts, a real plus. It is great to have an example of how the saxophone parts should sound for students to emulate.”

Jack Wilkins

Associate Professor of Jazz Studies University of South Florida

Aebersold Clinician Selmer Artist Author, “Essential Jazz Etudes-The Blues” (Mel Bay)

SAXOPHONE ETUDE BOOK 1 & DUET BOOK 1: "These books are a total pleasure. Perfect text to get beginners on the right track in jazz, swing and basics. I enjoyed this approach, and the well thought out manner it's displayed. A nice addition for any serious student of music. I use them with all my students and they are also fun to play! These books are impeccable and uncompromising- Well done Randy!"

Tim Price

Selmer Artist/Clinician Published Author

Kutztown University Jazz Faculty The New School in New York City

Featured writer for The Saxophone Journal for over 18 years

SAXOPHONE ETUDE BOOK 1: "I think this is one of the best books on developing jazz concepts that I've run across. It's an excellent way of getting your students to understand jazz phrasing and note choices. It will get them to better understand the construction of solo lines."

Mark Colby

DePaul University Jazz Faculty Selmer Clinician

Former Director Maynard Ferguson Band has appeared and recorded with Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Bob James, Jaco Pastorius, Arturo Sandoval, Ramsey Lewis, Charlie Haden, Gerry Mulligan, and Mose Allison

TRUMPET ETUDE BOOK 1: "Hunter has put together a much needed collection of jazz etudes for performers of all ages and teachers alike. Based on well known, and required standard tunes, all styles are clearly discussed and demonstrated. This series should be an integral part of any jazz educators required materials!"

Dr. David Champouillon

Associate Professor of Trumpet East Tennessee State University     Bach Performing Artist

TROMBONE ETUDE BOOK 1: ""Complete Jazz Styles" is a welcome addition to the training of players who need to learn how to swing. Bravo Randy!"

Brett Schuster

Grammy Winner

Professor of Trombone  University of Louisville

TRUMPET ETUDE BOOK 1: "Randy Hunter has put together a series of excellent jazz trumpet studies that are designed to get beginners off on the right track with regards to Swing and Improvising.The written text is also very clear and insightful... Very well done!"

Randy Brecker

The Brecker Brothers        IAJE Clinician       World renowned jazz artist and educator

TRUMPET ETUDE BOOKS 1 & 2: "For more years than we can remember, there has been a great need for books of etudes in the jazz style. Too often, the jazz ensembles in schools are not capable of providing the ìmissing linkî in learning to correctly interpret the various aspects of jazz improvisation. Hopefully, these new JAZZ STYLES books by Randy Hunter will start to fulfill this need. Thanks Randy, for making the effort to put these much-needed books together."

Bobby Shew

Jazz trumpet artist/ Yamaha Performing Artist

Associate Professor of Jazz Trumpet  University of Southern California/ Los Angeles

National Trumpet Chairman IAJE

TRUMPET ETUDE BOOK 1: "Bravo! Randy has started to launch a remarkable series designed to cover multiple aspects of jazz playing! I will use the book and CD for many purposes, including sight reading practice."

Dr. Michael Caldwell

Assistant Professor of Trumpet and Jazz Ensembles   California State University, Fresno

TRUMPET ETUDE BOOKS 1 & 2: "Concepts and explanations of styles are well communicated for this level. {It is) very easy to hear the correct style demonstrated in the recordings."

Jim Moody

Orchestra Teacher   Roswell High School   Roswell, GA

Complete JAZZ Styles

REVIEWS

 

Randy Hunter JAZZ Complete Jazz Styles Etudes: Book I

     Review by Saxguy (aka: John Temmerman)                        DEC 25 2007

 

I've been teaching for several years now. This book, in both the Eb (alto and bari sax) and Bb (tenor and soprano sax; clarinet) does an outstanding job of teaching jazz feel to developing students who have not encountered it before.

 

The etudes in Book I are very accessible to students who have been playing for 3 years and up. Typically, I will start interested 7th and 8th grade students in this book, although I have also started with high school students and adults.

 

The toughest part of getting students stared playing jazz is to get them comfortable with the different rhythmic feels involved: swing, modal, rock, latin and more. Both of Randy's etude books (there is an advanced book II) do an outstanding job of this. Randy performs each etude with a swinging rhythm section and then there is a second version of each tune without the background.

 

This accomplishes several things: First, the students can watch the music and listen to Randy perform it, not unlike the listening and transcribing done by developing players a generation ago. Then, the students can perform along with the melody track as part of learning it. Once the student can do that fairly well, the student can then practice by playing over the background only track.

 

While Randy does have a small amount of written instructions and stylistic comments, the focus on this book is listening and playing. Randy's a great player and there is much value for students in listening to him perform the etudes. That is very appropriate for the developing student.

 

This book was a Godsend. Until I found it several years ago, I was making play-alongs on Band In A Box software to help my students learn feel, but they weren't remotely as good as this.

 

Modern students need more and earlier validation that the last generation. When I first started out teaching, I learned early on that "go practice for hours and days and let me know when you have mastered something" which worked great for me wasn't going to work for this generation. These etudes are not too long and not too tough, while still challenging the student to play them correctly. Book II is tougher, but once a student has completed Book I, the student is ready.

 

Another bonus is that many of the etudes are written over the chord changes to familiar jazz standards. This means the students can use the etudes to help learn the tunes and even practice improvising over them, although that is not the primary focus here. I have successfully had students play the applicable standard over Randy's background and that has worked very well.

 

This book is available in the following versions:

               Tenor sax       Alto/Baritone Sax

   Clarinet       Trumpet

Trombone     Flute

 

Every single one of my students who wants to learn jazz ends up in this book, once they are capable. Like I said, this book was a Godsend. 5 stars is not enough! Recommended for any student who has 2 - 3 years experience and is ready to play it.

 

Complete Jazz Styles Book Review

 Review by Cindy McLeod        JazzElements.com      Wednesday, November 30th, 2005

 

Randy Hunter, jazz saxophonist/instructor, has released a superb series of instructional books for students of jazz with varying experience levels. The series provides a solid foundation in the skills of interpretation and improvisation. As with many jazz masters, Hunter has a desire to keep the muse alive and well, and is handing down information to the upcoming stars of the genre in an accessible and cohesive fashion.

 

With a solid background of performance credits and teaching experience numbering over 35,000 private music lessons, itís no surprise Hunter discovered a void left by traditional music education, that of the expression of jazz. He has filled that void with a creative, accessible and fun way to pass on the elemental skills of the idiom; style, rhythm, and phrasing, concepts that are essential to improvisation and the key to developing one's own voiceí as a musician.

 

All versions of the books are compatible, offering Alto, Baritone, and Tenor Saxes, Flute, Trumpet, and Trombone students to perform as an ensemble or individually, and come with play-along CD ís created in stereo, allowing students to isolate a part or listen to the composition in itís entirety. The written text is thoughtful and insightful, a clear picture into improvisation and interpretation. These books are an excellent tool for both private lesson and individual study settings, and supply the grounding for prepared audition and performance opportunities. The series comes in a format that is comprehensible to beginners through intermediate players, inspiring students to learn the skills of thinking independently while phrasing together.

 

Jazz music is an interpretive and improvisational art, itís not enough to be able to read and play notes and rhythm, feel is integral to this music. Hunter has created a required vehicle for students to learn this most vital of skills. His endorsements come from several jazz masters such as Joe Lovano, Randy Brecker, Bobby Shew, and Mark Colby, and the consensus is unanimous, this is a highly recommended series.

Check Out Our Partner Site... Jazzbeat.org Everything Jazz

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Reviews & Endorsements

Randy Hunter JAZZ.com

Randy Hunter JAZZ Complete Jazz Styles Etudes: Book I       

 Review by Saxguy (aka: John Temmerman)

DEC 25 2007

 

I've been teaching for several years now. This book, in both the Eb (alto and bari sax) and Bb (tenor and soprano sax; clarinet) does an outstanding job of teaching jazz feel to developing students who have not encountered it before.

 

The etudes in Book I are very accessible to students who have been playing for 3 years and up. Typically, I will start interested 7th and 8th grade students in this book, although I have also started with high school students and adults.

 

The toughest part of getting students stared playing jazz is to get them comfortable with the different rhythmic feels involved: swing, modal, rock, latin and more. Both of Randy's etude books (there is an advanced book II) do an outstanding job of this. Randy performs each etude with a swinging rhythm section and then there is a second version of each tune without the background.

 

This accomplishes several things: First, the students can watch the music and listen to Randy perform it, not unlike the listening and transcribing done by developing players a generation ago. Then, the students can perform along with the melody track as part of learning it. Once the student can do that fairly well, the student can then practice by playing over the background only track.

 

While Randy does have a small amount of written instructions and stylistic comments, the focus on this book is listening and playing. Randy's a great player and there is much value for students in listening to him perform the etudes. That is very appropriate for the developing student.

 

This book was a Godsend. Until I found it several years ago, I was making play-alongs on Band In A Box software to help my students learn feel, but they weren't remotely as good as this.

 

Modern students need more and earlier validation that the last generation. When I first started out teaching, I learned early on that "go practice for hours and days and let me know when you have mastered something" which worked great for me wasn't going to work for this generation. These etudes are not too long and not too tough, while still challenging the student to play them correctly. Book II is tougher, but once a student has completed Book I, the student is ready.

 

Another bonus is that many of the etudes are written over the chord changes to familiar jazz standards. This means the students can use the etudes to help learn the tunes and even practice improvising over them, although that is not the primary focus here. I have successfully had students play the applicable standard over Randy's background and that has worked very well.

 

This book is available in the following versions:

               Tenor sax       Alto/Baritone Sax   Clarinet

Trumpet Trombone     Flute

 

Every single one of my students who wants to learn jazz ends up in this book, once they are capable. Like I said, this book was a Godsend. 5 stars is not enough! Recommended for any student who has 2 - 3 years experience and is ready to play it.

Complete Jazz Styles Book Review

    Review by Cindy McLeod            JazzElements.com

Wednesday, November 30th, 2005

 

Randy Hunter, jazz saxophonist/instructor, has released a superb series of instructional books for students of jazz with varying experience levels. The series provides a solid foundation in the skills of interpretation and improvisation. As with many jazz masters, Hunter has a desire to keep the muse alive and well, and is handing down information to the upcoming stars of the genre in an accessible and cohesive fashion.

 

With a solid background of performance credits and teaching experience numbering over 35,000 private music lessons, itís no surprise Hunter discovered a void left by traditional music education, that of the expression of jazz. He has filled that void with a creative, accessible and fun way to pass on the elemental skills of the idiom; style, rhythm, and phrasing, concepts that are essential to improvisation and the key to developing one's own voiceí as a musician.

 

All versions of the books are compatible, offering Alto, Baritone, and Tenor Saxes, Flute, Trumpet, and Trombone students to perform as an ensemble or individually, and come with play-along CD ís created in stereo, allowing students to isolate a part or listen to the composition in itís entirety. The written text is thoughtful and insightful, a clear picture into improvisation and interpretation. These books are an excellent tool for both private lesson and individual study settings, and supply the grounding for prepared audition and performance opportunities. The series comes in a format that is comprehensible to beginners through intermediate players, inspiring students to learn the skills of thinking independently while phrasing together.

 

Jazz music is an interpretive and improvisational art, itís not enough to be able to read and play notes and rhythm, feel is integral to this music. Hunter has created a required vehicle for students to learn this most vital of skills. His endorsements come from several jazz masters such as Joe Lovano, Randy Brecker, Bobby Shew, and Mark Colby, and the consensus is unanimous, this is a highly recommended series.

Randy Hunter JAZZ.com
Check Out Our Partner Site... Jazzbeat.org Everything Jazz
Randy Hunter JAZZ.com