The Hits Keep Coming!

Just released at the end of July are two more Sher Music books — Contemporary Latin Jazz Guitar, Vol. 2 by Neff Irizarry and The Jimmy Raney Book, written by Jimmy Raney and his son Jon.

If you're familiar with Neff Irizarry’s first volume, you won’t need any encouragement to check out Vol. 2 — it’s even more amazing than his initial book and includes transcription and analysis of over 50 classic solos in the genre. 'Nuff said.

Jimmy Raney was a legendary bebop guitarist in the ’50s and ’60s, playing with Stan Getz, Bob Brookmeyer, and many more. He wrote a book on his conception of what makes bebop such an exciting form of music, but it was left unfinished at the time of his passing. Thankfully, his son Jon Raney — a fantastic pianist and educator — completed, edited, and expanded the work earlier this year. Among other things, it offers the most detailed look at the rhythmic aspect of creating fluid bebop lines that I’ve ever seen. Definitely worth your time to check out.

On a personal note: Our local newspaper here in Petaluma, CA — the Argus-Courier — did a feature article on me and the free, outdoor jazz concert series I started at the beginning of the pandemic. We’re still going strong in our fourth season, thanks in large part to the financial support of Jamey Aebersold and Music in Place.

📰 Check out the latest article on Chuck Sher and his free Jazz Concert series!

They spelled my name correctly but refused to include photos of Leonardo DiCaprio instead of me — can’t have everything!
— Chuck Sher