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Best Jazz Books, Courses and Gear

Over the years, I've purchased just about every book and online course on the market. The ones pictured here, and listed below, live on a shelf next to my piano. These are the same books I have learned from, and I reference them every week. Some of these books I've worn through multiple times -- they are in a bit of rough shape, as you can tell from the photo.

Jeremy Siskind's Book Cover
Playing Solo Jazz Piano: A New Approach for Creative Pianists

If you don't buy anything else, make it this book. -- Jeremy Siskind is one of the most progressive jazz pianists teaching today. As a student of the great Fred Hersch, Jeremy has built a career teaching his unique approach to solo piano playing. Perhaps no book in my library has done more for my playing than this book.

The Jazz Piano Book - Cover
The Jazz Piano Book by Mark Levine

This is the classic book to begin learning how to play jazz piano. It's not meant for beginning piano players, but serves as a rather comprehensive guide to the fundamental aspects of jazz theory concepts.

The Jazz Theory Book - Cover
The Jazz Theory Book by Mark Levine

This book is a more comprehensive version of The Jazz Piano Book above. It's written for all instrumentalists, not just pianists, and covers the theory at a deeper level.

Cover of Frank Mantooth's book on Voicings
Voicings by Frank Mantooth

This book is a classic treasure amongst jazz pianists. It's not like any other book on voicings that I've read. If you are into modern jazz, especially fourth voicings, there's no better book than Frank's.

Cover of Bert Ligon's book.
Connecting Chords With Linear Harmony by Bert Ligon

Many jazz pianists get stuck thinking vertically about chords and voicings -- that was certainly true for me. Bert's book guides you to think about harmony through melodic lines by applying 3 linear exercises across major and minor ii-V-I chord progressions.

Cover of Jazz Keyboard Harmony book
Jazz Keyboard Harmony by Phil DeGreg

Phil DeGreg's book is focused mostly on keyboard voicing techniques. It serves as a method book as well as a workbook. It's quite comprehensive in its application of various types of voicings and movements through chord progressions.

Cover page for Jazz-Library's free practice journal
Practice Journal

The Jazz-Library Practice Journal is a set of templates designed to encourage healthy, robust and methodical practice sessions.

Piano with Jonny on an iPad
Piano with Jonny

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Improve Your Practice with our Free Practice Journal.