Here are a few books that I have used in learning the sax
Jazz- Patterns For Improvisation By Oliver Nelson, Charlie Parker: Charlie Parker Omnibook – E-flat, Charlie Parker: Charlie Parker Omnibook – B-flat Basic Aebersold Play-Alongs- Volume 54 – Maiden Voyage,
The Aebersold books are great fun to play with and are useful in learning tunes. They range in style and difficulty across over one hundred books.
The Charlie Parker Omnibook gives you many melodies and the improvisational genius of Parker in a single book.
Even if you mostly play jazz or another style, being comfortable with classical music will add something to your playing- specifically technique, precision, and a different set of musical ideas you can draw upon. Just listen to Bill Evans to hear the classical influence.
Intermediate/Advanced Aebersolds- Volume 64 – Salsa Latin Jazz, Volume 16 – Turnarounds, Cycles & ii/V7s
If you play some classical music or even if you mostly play jazz, it can be beneficial to study from the classical perspective.
Rubank Method is a series that ranges from beginning to advanced. It includes scale exercises, fingering challenges, classical melodies, and other exercises.
Rubank Elementary Method Saxophone
Rubank Intermediate Method Saxophone
Rubank Advanced Method – Saxophone Vol.1
Rubank Advanced Method – Volume 2 (Saxophone)
You should definitely haveThe Jazz Theory Book.
As James Moody says, “The Jazz Theory Book should be in every musician’s library regardless of the level of their ability.” As author Mark Levine says himself,
“A great jazz solo consists of:
1% magic
99% stuff that is
Explainable
Analyzable
Categorizable
Doable”
You’re on your own for the magic bit, but his book will help you with the 99% part. And while The Jazz Theory Book is great, Mark Levine is a piano player and for saxophone specific issues the Art Of Saxophone Playing can help. It can be a bit dry though.
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