Book cover of 'Playing for Singers' by Mike Greensill on a brown and tan background.
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Playing for Singers: Art of Accompaniment for the Jazz or Cabaret Piano Player

By Mike Greensill

Master the Art of Accompanying Jazz & Cabaret Singers at the Piano

This unique book covers all the fundamentals of playing for vocalists. Whether or not you’re an experienced accompanist, this book answers the essential question: How do you make a singer sound their absolute best? 

Veteran pianist, arranger, and music director Mike Greensill draws on decades of experience accompanying world-class vocalists to reveal the craft behind great accompaniment — particularly when performing songs from ‘Great American Songbook’. 

Topics Covered Include: 

  • How to accompany singers as a solo pianist. 

  • Duo and Trio accompaniment. What happens when we add bass and drums? 

  • The art of “out of tempo” accompaniment 

  • The accompanist as arranger/composer, including the skills needed to put together readable, good-looking charts. 

  • The accompanist as music director - A survey of all the myriad duties of a musical director, from conducting the band, to running rehearsals, to helping write and organize vocalist's shows. 

  • Nuggets of wisdom from the great accompanists - accompaniment philosophies and tricks of the trade from Norman Simmons, Jimmy Rowles, Bill Charlap, Christian Jacob, Tedd Firth, Sir Richard Rodney Bennett, and more. 

  • A useful book for singers, as well as pianists, since it sheds much light on the intimate relationship between the two! 

Spiral-bound, 121 pages, Table of Contents.

Sample Pages: "The Lady's In Love With You", Ballad Comping with Bass

Endorsements:

“In a world deeply populated with music books, this is a special one that teaches how to accompany in an insightful and approachable way. Thanks to Mike's musical wisdom and experience, it fills a gap that finally addresses how to really do it!”
— Michael Feinstein

“Mike Greensill's Playing for Singers is a most valuable and thorough resource and reference, a welcome addition to every accompanist's library. . . Bravo Mike!”
— Lee Musiker, accompanist to Tony Bennett

“Mike has done the impossible — he has examined and dissected just about every aspect of collaboration with an artist, and done it mightily well.. A must-read for any budding music director, arranger and pianist — this is a terrific book!”
— John McDaniel, Broadway musical director, conductor, arranger, and TV show band leader 

Mike Greensill is a pianist, arranger, and musical director based in San Francisco. He has toured internationally, released 20 albums with vocalist Wesla Whitfield, and arranged for orchestras including the Boston Pops. Mike frequently performs jazz and accompanies high-profile vocal talents.
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Primary Instrument: Piano
Primary Instrument: Piano

“Mr. Greensill has drawn on his many years of experience backing vocalists to write this invaluable exploration of the various skills necessary to become an accomplished and in-demand vocal accompanist. This book sheds a bright light into an often shadowy corner of musical techniques, inadequately explored until now. Highly recommended.”
— Larry Dunlap, accompanist to Dame Cleo Lane, Mark Murphy, Bobbe Norris

“Mike Greensill has written the book that should've been written a long time ago to open up the world of vocal accompaniment to pianists of all styles and ability levels. Mike's decades of experience as a top- shelf accompanist and arranger make him the perfect person to have written this book.”
— Ted Firth, accompanist to Maureen McGovern, Tom Wopat, Carol Sloane, Hillary Kole, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Marilyn Maye

“Mike Greensill's Playing for Singers is a first — a unique addition to the now rich catalog of pedagogical materials directed to the jazz musician. Secrets of the great accompanists are revealed herein. Mike and his wife, vocalist Wesla Whitfield, have long been in the front rank of interpreters of the Great American Song Book.”
— Gary Foster, jazz recording artist

“Playing for Singers is an easy-to-follow, artistically-presented and friendly introduction to the world of the Great American Songbook for pianists making music with vocalists. It is filled with musical examples and gems of wisdom.”
— Tamir Hendelman, accompanist to Barbra Streisand, Natalie Cole, Tierney Sutton

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