“The Jazz Songbook Series” is Released!

Listening to Alan Pasqua play at the JEN convention this past January (which now feels like a lifetime ago!), the idea struck me: “Alan's music is so beautiful. I should put out a book of his best tunes.” Fast forward ten months, and that seed has grown into a full-blown harvest — we are thrilled to release not only 20 of Alan's best songs, but also Jazz Songbooks for:

• Tom Harrell

• Carla Bley

• Kenny Barron

• Ralph Towner

• Steve Swallow

• Kenny Werner

• Horace Silver

• Oscar Hernandez (musical director for Rubén Blades for many years)

• Wayne Wallace (renowned Latin Jazz composer and arranger)

Unlike our earlier fake books, these charts are taken directly from the composers’ original lead sheets (with the exception of Horace Silver, who is no longer with us). That means these books are not just incredible musical resources — they also carry genuine historical and artistic value. Some lead sheets were re-copied for legibility, but their content remains faithful to the originals.

Of course, a project of this magnitude took a team effort. Deep thanks to:

• Sueann Bettison Sher, Annalisa Sher, and Linda Larsen for the beautiful cover artwork

• Bob Afifi for assembling all the digital pieces masterfully

• Larry Dunlap for expert editing and music engraving

• Attila Nagy and Chris Goodmiller for additional graphics work

• And, most importantly, the composers themselves, for allowing Sher Music Co. to share their music with the world

Thank you to all — and especially to you, our readers and musicians, for making Sher Music Co. what it is today. Be well, stay safe, and enjoy these labors of love!
—Chuck Sher