Learn to Comp Like the Jazz Greats — Step by Step
If you’ve ever wondered how to become the kind of rhythm section player who truly makes the soloist sound better, An Approach to Comping: The Essentials is the book to get you there. Written specifically for pianists, but useful for any rhythm section player, this is the most focused and practical guide to jazz accompaniment available today.
You’ll start with the fundamentals of rhythm, voicings, and chord progressions — and then work your way up through dozens of real-world examples drawn directly from the masters: Bud Powell, Horace Silver, Barry Harris, Tadd Dameron, and others.
With over 80 targeted comping exercises, you'll learn how to internalize these core concepts until they become second nature.
This book also includes 11 full transcriptions of recorded comping behind soloists. You'll also find interviews with pianists Harold Mabern and Renee Rosnes that shed light on the artistry and responsibility of comping in a jazz group.
Includes two CDs-worth of downloadable audio files with demonstration and play-along tracks to help you hear and feel the material come to life.
Whether you're a student, teacher, or gigging pianist, this 272-page spiral-bound book is an essential guide on the path to mastering one of jazz's most vital skills.
An Approach to Comping: The Essentials has many valuable features, including:
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Basic rhythms and voicings for comping.
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11 note-for-note transcriptions of Bud Powell, Horace Silver, Tadd Dameron, and Barry Harris comping behind the soloist.
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3 modified transcriptions in the style of Red Garland, Sonny Clark, and Bobby Timmons comping behind the soloist.
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Comping guides, rhythms, and progressions derived from the transcriptions.
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Over 80 comping exercises aimed at getting the concepts under your fingers.
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2 CD downloads containing demonstrations and play-along tracks.
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Interviews about the art of comping by Harold Mabern and Renee Rosnes.
Spiral-bound, 272 pages, Table of Contents.
Sample Pages: Pages 103-105, Horace Silver's Comping, Bud Powell's Comping
Sample Tracks: Disc 1: Track #16, Disc 2: Track #3
Endorsements:
“Brilliant pianist Jeb Patton has created an insightful and definitive book on comping. The subject is explored from all angles including a thorough study of rhythmic and voicing styles, and it contains plenty of written examples and suggested listening to go along with the text. There really is no other book like it, and I've no doubt that “The Essentials” will be an indispensable guide to comping for generations of jazz pianists to come!”
— Renee Rosnes
“Jeb, being as thorough as he is, came up with this unique idea showing how the great jazz pianists accompanied or “comped” behind soloists. He has done the homework for aspiring jazz piano players. Thanks to Jeb Patton.”
— Jimmy Heath
“This book is about to become an immeasurable bridge in the hope of keeping real Jazz alive in the future. Jeb is putting his love of the music out into the world in such an immediately accessible, universally useful way.”
— Benny Green
For more advanced techniques and even deeper instruction on this crucial skill, check out: An Approach to Comping – Vol. 2
