Christmas Songs: Jazz Piano Solos Series Volume 25

There are some nice jazz chords in this book, but if you are looking for some complex jazz runs or some strikingly unusual chords, you might be disappointed. It's okay if you are intermediate at the piano, and it does stay close to the original melody on most songs. I feel that an advanced piano player might find this too simplistic, but this is only my opinion based on what I am looking for.

I'm thrilled about this purchase. Let me explain that as a long-time jazz musician (trombone player) and classically trained pianist (but, surprisingly NOT a jazz pianist per se), this book is like gold. I have not had time to play many of the arrangements, so I am going to keep my preliminary review fairly simple. Surprisingly, the technical requirements of this book should not be beyond that of any intermediate to advanced pianist even with a largely classical training. That is because being based primarily on sight reading rather than chordal improvisation, these arrangements can be accessible to anyone who appreciates but has never truly had time to study the discipline. Having said that, some knowledge of the jazz idiom is extremely helpful. Case in point, when playing chords with multiple accidental alterations, it helps to be able to use the chord notations to verify that you are playing the intended harmonies.What I like most about these arrangements is that they have been written to closely resemble (if not in identical form to) the music that you would hear in commercial recordings. A fairly obvious example of this is "Christmas Time is Here," which blew me away when I first played it because it so closely resembles the Vince Guaraldi version we are used to hearing. It may in fact be a simplified version of what he and other true jazz artists have done with the piece, but it makes the amateur pianist feel as if he or she were playing the original, and that's what this is all about: empowering the performer to expand his/her musical horizons. Indeed, through careful study and rehearsing of these pieces, I believe there is a lot that can be learned about jazz chord progressions and voicings. "A Child is Born" is another arrangements that fits this same pattern. It sounds so much like the versions you hear performed yet continues to be such a hauntingly beautiful piece to play.I'm sure everyone (myself included) could find things to knit-pick about specific songs or settings they like or dislike, but this is one situation where I am going to review based on the whole of the work rather than its individual parts. If you don't like a particular accompaniment pattern or style, then do what other reviewers have suggested (and done) which is modify or improvise something more to your liking. Play from the chord progressions alone if you are so inclined.In closing, I will echo the sentiments of another reviewer I followed when selecting this book. I look forward to learning these pieces and hopefully someday playing them to entertain others with arrangements that are refreshing, exciting, and truly contemporary sounding. With 20+ pieces to study, this book is well worth the money. For what it's worth, I see that this is one of a long series of books designed to introduce the amateur pianist to a variety of jazz artists and styles. I expect those who play from those other books will find a similarly rewarding experience. I may well have to explore more of them myself.

First I confess I didn’t play every song all the way through. Mostly I just played the ones I know and like. He uses some nice harmonies to evoke a jazzy feel. He mostly sticks to the melody but when he doesn’t, things don’t go quite as well. It’s not just that he gets too far away from the tune. That would be ok if his improvisations worked but, for me at least, they mostly don’t and are often trite. For instance, the improv break in White Christmas bears almost no relation to the melodic line and just doesn’t make any musical sense. I’ll Be Home For Christmas, otherwise quite nice, has the same problem. Rhythmically the arrangements are pretty straight forward but, every so often, he inserts a bar or two with a rhythmic break that forces you to ask why.Some of his choices are just wholly bizarre. Silver Bells as gospel swing is a bridge too far. On the other hand, Santa Baby, though it’s a song I don’t like, lends itself well to the funky swing style he employs.At times he just seems to try too hard. There are Vince Guaraldi note for note transcriptions of Christmastime is Here (Artist Transcriptions: The Vince Guaraldi Collection) and The Christmas Song (The Charlie Brown Christmas songbook) which are much more satisfying.As to difficulty, an advanced intermediate player can sight read all of them well enough to get the idea. Perfecting them, if you care to, will take a couple more run throughs. Occasionally, the harmonies are so discordant you just have to pause to make sure you’re actually reading the right notes.All in all, it’s ok and most people will probably find a few songs they enjoy playing. But, unfortunately, for me, my search for really good jazz versions of Christmas songs continues.

This book is perfect for the holiday gathering where you want to impress with something more than just the typical Christmas tunes out of a hymnal. The arrangements are light and refreshing, and perfect for those of us pianists who aren't up to the challenge of improvisation after a couple of adult beverages.It is not easily sight-readable (be prepared to practice ahead of time), but the book is definitely fun to play, and memorable afterwards. Kudos to the arranger for including the chord symbols as well as the realization. All of the arrangements are perfect as they introduce the tune, do a little development, and then most return to the tune at the end (but beware the DS al codas, as I found the page turns definitely get in the way).The only tunes that were not to my liking were the Gospel-swing arrangements (Blue Christmas and Silver Bells). While inventive, I felt the style gets old before the pieces have a chance to develop (although this might just be a matter of personal taste). Even if you agree with me, that still leaves 19 pieces that are just about as good as a Christmas piano CD (except live, because you'll be playing them).If you play the book cover to cover, it'll take about an hour (about which time you'll be ready for someone else to take over at the keyboard, with no takers because the arrangements from this book impressed the crowd). I'll definitely be pulling this book out again next year.Oh, and because it doesn't say this anywhere else in the info, these arrangements are by Brent Edstrom.

You only need one Christmas piano album........and this is it. Great arrangements. You want to impress family and friends when they gather around the piano on Christmas Day? Well, buy it. I can sum it up in four words: Arranged by Brent Edstrom......

Its OK

I love this book. The arrangements are beautiful and still have a classic sound despite being jazz. I find the playing level to be perfect - the arrangements aren't too difficult to learn but don't sound overly simple. My playing level is late intermediate but I have very limited experience with jazz and this book is just right for me.

Für meinen Geschmack klingen diese Stücke weder sehr weihnachtlich noch kreativ arrangiert. Sie klingen schwer und für Zuhörer eher anstrengend, weshalb ich zum Vortrag lieber andere Kompositionen spiele. Für anspruchsvolle Zuhörer und Pianisten wenig geeignet, da sehr leicht zu spielen.

Any arrangements by Brent Edstrom are not to be ignored. His music talents go way beyond other arrangers. Playing Brent's arrangements will give you excitement and exceptional musical "goosebumps"!