Baker, David: Improvisational Patterns: The Bebop Era

“Improvisational Patterns: The Bebop Era” is a series of pattern books predicated on the belief that while certain patterns seem to transcend eras and styles, the greater body of improvisational material is of high specificity with regard to its time and place within the jazz continuum. The bebop era initiates the series since in the minds of many people, (the author included), this era is the common practice period of jazz music. While the patterns in this book are also highly specific, they enjoy a greater continuing currency than do the patterns of any other period in jazz’s brief history. The many II V7, cycle and turnaround patterns are based on protracted studies of literally hundreds of solos by the jazz greats of the bebop era. Volume 1 is over 100 pages and volumes 2 and 3 are over 50 pages each, making this one of the biggest jazz improv books ever written.