Overview: If you are, or would like to be, an arranger for jazz ensembles, big bands or jazz orchestras, you owe it to yourself to absorb the decades of wisdom contained in Chuck Israels’ newly revised book, Exploring Jazz Arranging.

Mr. Israel starts at the beginning by giving you sage advice on how to construct perfect bass lines (something he knows a lot about, having been Bill Evans’ bassist of choice for many years). Then there are complete chapters on Rhythm, Form, Melody and Orchestration, Writing for Two Voices, Writing for Three Voices, Writing for Four or More Voices, and more! Endorsed by Alan Ferber, Dave Berger, Rick Lawn, etc.

Verdict: I mean, and if you didn’t already know, Chuck Israels - now aged 89 - is a highly respected bassist, composer, arranger, and educator whose career has spanned over six decades, leaving a significant impact on jazz through his work with legendary figures, his innovative arranging, and his dedication to jazz education.

And aside from all his other mighty accolades and such, having replaced Scott LaFaro in the Bill Evans Trio, he sought to bring a resonant, full-bodied tone and a profound ability to balance technique with emotional expression to the group during his pivotal five-year period.

Chuck Israels’ long and luminous professional jazz career is already cemented in history, and it continues onward with his newly published book entitled Exploring Jazz Arranging - Revised Edition, where the renowned figure himself takes a refreshing approach to the study of arranging and orchestration.

What Chuck has admirably created here goes way beyond big band score examples with limited descriptions of techniques, the “meat” of most arranging books. He begins by stressing the primary importance of rhythm above chord voicing and the essential relationship between the “outer lines,” melody and bass line. Contrary motion is very important. Chord names are often not enough for a bass player to play an effective line.

He goes on to talk about chord voicing and voice leading. Common musical forms are explored. Then comes recognizing chord phrases, or recurring patterns in chord progressions. He also writes about arranging for solo, 2, 3, 4, and 5 voices. He describes writing for the individual instruments in the rhythm section and gradually gets into writing for combos and smaller ensembles. Only about two-thirds of the way through the book does he get into writing for big band.

This text and accompanying examples explore fundamental ideas about music, primarily in the jazz idiom. Chuck freely shares his deep understanding and astute insights into this wonderfully expressive style of music.

In closing, Exploring Jazz Arranging - Revised Edition is a most wondrous window into Chuck’s unique approach to arranging, that, sure, some might find rather inconsistently unusual, and yet will culminate their reading of this superb book with the unshakeable thought that they have just spent time in the presence of sheer musical brilliance.

It runs at 187 pages and contains a free download of audio files for each musical example. It is spiral bound and available in both printed and PDF formats.

About the Author - Chuck Israels is a composer/arranger/bassist who has worked with Billie Holiday, Benny Goodman, Coleman Hawkins, Stan Getz, Herbie Hancock, J.J. Johnson, John Coltrane, and many others. He is best known for his work with the Bill Evans Trio from 1961 through 1966 and for his pioneering accomplishments in Jazz Repertory as Director of the National Jazz Ensemble from 1973 to 1981.

Among Chuck’s many recordings as a bassist, some outstanding ones include: Coltrane Time, with John Coltrane; My Point of View, with Herbie Hancock; Getz au Go-Go, with Stan Getz; and many recordings with the Bill Evans Trio, including The Town Hall Concert; The Second Trio; Trio ’65; Live at the Trident; Time Remembered; and Live at Shelley’s Manne Hole.

Official Book Purchase Link

www.chuckisraelsjazz.com