Be Bop for Student Chops-Alto Sax

About Be Bop for Student Chops (Level: Intermediate to Advanced. 5th to 7th Grade AMEB)

The term “chops” refers to the technical and improvisational skills of a jazz musician.

This book has been carefully designed and scored to be a somewhat authentic but gentle introduction into the wonderful world of Be Bop music.
While the pieces in this book have been composed to reflect the spirit, style and techniques of Be Bop music, front and centre in my mind was the necessity for all of the music and solos in this book to be playable by a good level student player. The virtuosic nature of many of the authentic be bop classic performances is well beyond the technical abilities of many student (and even professionally accomplished) players and so I found it necessary to maintain a balance between authenticity and playability. As such, many of the trademark blindingly rapid phrases and lines that the great be bop innovators often used are not present in these solos as they would, I feel, create an undue and unwelcome feeling of inadequacy in regards the performance of these at this stage of musical development.

The ten pieces that I have composed for this book are all inspired or based of the harmonic structures of the classic Be Bop tunes without using the original melodies for these. Nevertheless, It is hoped that the student player will be able to gain an insight and appreciation for the style, spirit and complex beauty that this remarkable jazz music offers to us all. I believe that Be Bop music, and in particular Charlie Parker’s contributions, heralded the beginning of new approach to jazz music. Just as JS Bach influenced and re-redefined music in the 17th century and way beyond, so too has Parker’s body of work. Nothing in jazz after Charlie Parker would ever be the same and jazz music and harmony became a new, fertile and uncharted territory for generations of musicians that extends up to the present day. Every musical style from Latin, funk, fusion, hip hop and even film and screen music in the mid to late 20th century has been touched and influenced by Parker’s genius. The complex but now commonplace use of his approach to jazz harmony was a “big bang” event that, although largely unnoticed by the wider population, has been and will continue to be a major driving force behind the way composers and musicians view jazz performance and in particular, improvisation today and way into the future. I sincerely hope that this book will lead you to research and listen to the original creators and innovators of be bop music. Their achievements and genius have left a lasting and powerful musical legacy for us all to enjoy.

Andy Firth (NSW. Australia.14th August 2020)