Composed of winners of talent contests and the star of the Scandinavian film Adam and Eve, the Swedish quartet Play strut the kind of girl power not seen since the emergence of the Spice Girls. But it may not be evident from their music, which is generic, synth-laden Europop buffed with slick R&B beats and polished harmonies occasionally marked by flashes of charm ("Disco Hippie"). The nasally vocals and tinny background of a wan version of Olivia Newton-John's "Hopelessly Devoted to You" is more the norm. The group's spunky lyrics, however, push the tunes beyond purely inoffensive Top 40 techno lite. No wallflowers sitting at home pining after the boy next door, the girls champion independence, self-reliance, and pride on tracks like "Us Against the World," "Cinderella," and "I Don't Get Down Like That." Such positive messages give Play's music a much-needed injection of attitude and originality. --Annie Zaleski
Easy to understand and inspiring for all musicians wishing to explore the secrets of jazz improv. CD includes blues in Bb and F, four dorian minor tracks, four-measure cadences, cycle of dominants, 24-measure song, II/V7 in all keys. Book includes transposed parts for all instruments. The CD also includes Jamey playing exercises from the book. Hear the master clinician show you exactly how it's done! Beginning/intermediate. Rhythm section: Jamey Aebersold (p); Rufus Reid (b); Jonathan Higgins (d)
CDs contain 30 extended tracks of recorded background. Learn to Improvise Jazz is a great primer for learning basic skills in major and minor keys. Advanced players will want to work on "double-timing," playing "outside" and "side-slipping" in all keys at comfortable tempos. Special tracks have Jamey Aebersold playing various exercises and soloing on his saxophone with actual cuts from Volume 24 so you can hear and see how to use this set. All improvisation exercises and sax solos on the demo tracks are transcribed and written out in the book! Pick a different key each day/week/practice. For all instrumentalists and vocalists. Rhythm section: J. Aebersold (p); John Goldsby (b); Charlie Craig (d)
