|
|
"This
text is used for vocal jazz majors at the University of
Southern California, where the author is an instructor.
Although the copyright date says it was completed this year,
there is ample evidence both that there have been many years
of work preceding this edition and that it is still probably
a work in progress. That is not to suggest that there are
deficiencies or rough edges because the work feels very
organic and, as a result, current. There is also
a conversational style that runs through this book that
makes it immediately accessible and user-friendly. In short,
if you're a jazz singer who is looking for a text that reads
as if you're having a private lesson, you are going to want
this book for certain.
As with many books we encounter, the author starts with
a philosophical perspective: 'What is a jazz singer?' But
within the next page, she has already traveled light years
beyond many other like-minded books with her candor and
directness. First she points out that '...singers are often
not treated with the same level of respect that instrumentalists
accord each other.' While helping the reader better understand
how this could be, she also covers a number of other thorny
issues and the need to become a proficient pianist top the
list. The chapter continues to explore topics such as jazz
rhythm and improvisation in a manner that reads more like
a dialogue than a textbook.
The next two chapters deal more with the theoretical and
analytical aspects of jazz and are followed by a chapter
titled 'Did You Bring Your Charts?' that provides a nice
change of pace. Here, we depart from the theoretical and
examine some real-life situations that cut a little deeper
into the mystique of jazz singing. Farnsworth offers a number
of scenarios with insightful backgrounds that help beginners
better interpret what's actually happening on the bandstand.
What's impressive here is that these examples have a strong
ring of practical truth to them that allow you to feel the
experience in advance.
This book keeps bouncing back and forth between the technical
and the practical in a manner that holds your attention
and imagination. Although the author is right--this is an
instrumental approach in many ways--I found the most fascinating
material often related to the issues of singing. That is
not to suggest that there are technical problems with the
contents or different levels of enthusiasm displayed according
to topic. It's simply that some of the technical material
has been covered often for instrumentalist in the past,
buy many of the issues concerning singing are discussed
much less frequently in print.
Although there are a few isolated moments where the book
needs further research and development, its practical, no-nonsense
approach is so appealing overall that you're likely to think
of it as your 'Bible' if you're a jazz singer. Even if you're
not, there are still enough useful tips about 'how to get
the job' that easily justify picking up this useful text." |
