This book is unbelievably great. I studied with the author before the book came out, and I remember feeling like my world had been changed after every single lesson. The material he taught me in those lessons is covered in detail in the book, and has contributed more to my artistic development than anything else I’ve come across in my 10+ years being a jazz instrumentalist. It is by far the best resource I’ve found for learning and practicing jazz improvisation. The exercises are clear, simple, and foolproof. It has everything from simple meditative exercises to blistering bebop solos, and everything is explained in a concise, easy-to-understand way. It really should be called “jazz improv for dummies.” If you’re feeling at all lost with jazz improv (most of us are), do yourself a favor and GET THIS BOOK!
Also, if you’re looking for the spiral-bound version (best for laying flat on a music stand to practice), here’s how to find it: under the title, go to “See all formats and editions” > “Hardcover” > select “Hardcover-spiral.” It’s not a true hardcover, just kind of a flexible cardboard. Perfect for use as a method book and makes it lighter, too.
N
Naomi T.
★★★★★
A Jazz Improvisation Book That Finally Makes Sense
I bought this book because I’ve known about Javier Arau’s work for a while and have followed what he’s done at New York Jazz Academy. He’s one of the few people in jazz education whose ideas actually translate into real playing, so I was already curious about what his full method would look like. This book exceeded my expectations.
What stood out immediately is how clear and playable the material is. Every few pages feel like a small, meaningful lesson, something I can actually take to my instrument right away. It never feels overwhelming or abstract. Instead of dumping a ton of theory or throwing long lists of scales at you, the book shows how melody works and how to build improvisation from that foundation. It’s organized in a way that makes you grow without even realizing it.
The musical examples are another highlight. They’re drawn from all across jazz history, and a lot of them are from musicians I don’t usually see represented in method books. It was refreshing to encounter so many different voices, women, global musicians, and players whose approaches deserve more attention. It made the whole learning experience feel richer and more grounded in the full story of jazz, not just one narrow slice.
I also appreciate how encouraging the writing feels. Arau has a way of explaining things that’s both straightforward and musical. You can tell he’s been teaching and performing at a high level for a long time. There’s no fluff, no condescension, and no academic fog, it’s just honest, practical guidance from someone who clearly knows the craft.
After a couple of weeks with the book, I’m already hearing changes in the way I improvise. I’m making more intentional choices, I’m thinking more melodically, and I’m a lot less tense when I take solos. That alone makes it worth the price.
If you’re serious about learning how to improvise, or if you’re a teacher looking for a method that actually works, I definitely recommend this book without hesitation. It’s easily one of the most useful and inspiring jazz education resources I’ve come across.
