Playing Outside the Chord
A Manual of Techniques and Possibilities for the Adventurous Improvising Musician
book
Sure - everybody has an opinion on how to play 'outside'. But until now, no one has made an in-depth exploration of the commonalities and differences in how the greatest jazz players on the planet have incorporated this super-cool technique. With Playing Outside the Chord, David Kane invokes a thoughtfully curated selection of transcribed phrases that take the reader beyond the simple mechanics of what is being played and offer revelatory insights into what the players are (or might be) thinking when they play it. It's a daunting, seemingly impossible objective; yet here it is, beautifully examined, notated, and explained in an accessible way that every musician can understand.
'This book is a treasure trove, full of important information on chromaticism and its usage. From Bach to Schoenberg, Dave covers a lot of ground and the book is very well organized. He specifically addresses the melodic aspect of improvisation, including lines and phrases, rather than the usual emphasis on harmony. What's special is that he explores the "feeling" and overall effect of the lines on the listener. This book is all you need as a working guide towards understanding the implications of 20th century jazz and classical music.' -David Liebman