LESSONS! Grappelli Licks: The Vocabulary of Gypsy Jazz Violin by Tim Kliphuis, Upright Bass: Killer Technique by Chris Tordini

Here are a couple of educational books that will get your chops up a couple notches

Tim Kliphuis, considered the heir to violinist Stephane Grappelli’s throne, has put together a healthy collection of melodies and licks that are associated with gypsy swing. Essentials such as “Minor Swing,” I’ve Found a New Baby” and “Honeysuckle Rose” among others are dissected in the book, and the accompanying cd helps you get the feel to the music down. Play-along chords are a big help here, as finding likeminded musicians was what discouraged me from pursuing this genre myself years ago. For kindred spirits!

Chris Tordini delivers the essentials of letting your fingers do the walking on this book of technique and musicality. The chapters are broken into right and left hand exercises, as well as p laying vertidcally and horizontally. You’ll need a metronome for this collection of works, but this series of chapters  will also help you land an extra job or two.

Mel Bay Publishing

www.melbay.com

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