This book & CD set published in 1994 contains 20 units (chapters) that discuss different concepts that guitarist Leni Stern used to write her music. 10 of the 19 songs discussed are included on the accompanying CD.
Leni’s explanations are concise and give very usable ideas for the aspiring (or curious) jazz composer. Having both her explanations & the lead sheets are very helpful to see the concepts in use.
I love that Leni shares the origins of these ideas including what she learned from her teacher Charlie Banacos, from her time as a film scoring student and other teachers that gave her food for thought. Personally, I really feel that this book format is such a great way to learn about composing.
All in all, I really recommend this book to any composers who would like to get new ideas for writing music. If you can find a copy of this out of print book, get it!
Pros: Great compositions with great insights on how Leni composed the music.
Cons: None except that this book is out of print so it’s difficult to buy a copy of it.
TLDR: If you’re into Leni’s music or if you’re a jazz composer/student, this book provides invaluable insights that you can use for your own music.
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