Solo Jazz Guitar Etudes: 16 Arrangements of Real Book Standards for Study, Practice, and Performance.

Bruce Forman is the embodiment of all the bebop jazz greats he's played with over his long, illustrious career. I've seen them all and I've taken lesson from several, living and dead including Bruce. By far he's the best. Not only is his playing the most brilliant and creative, he has the most loving, teaching heart. His explanations for each of the etudes is an inviting guide to knowing what to look and listen for. His passion for passing on his knowledge shines through every word and note.

I’m absolutely obsessed with Bruce Forman’s playing. His guitar work is both wild and beautiful, delivered with an incredibly swinging feel. This book captures some of his solo performances from his Instagram series, First Chorus of the Day. In it, he breaks down why he played a certain way—both from a music theory perspective and based on how he was feeling at the time.You’ll find plenty of ideas on phrasing and harmonization when playing melodies, and you can also download the accompanying audio and video from the publisher’s website. If you’re a beginner (or even an intermediate or advanced player), I highly recommend his jazz concept videos on My Music Masterclass—they’re fun, insightful, and packed with great content.Bruce Forman is awesome!

Book looks great, website is a pile of crap!

Amazing book.First, even if the 16 arrangements are short, which helps to remember and learn them, they are packed with informations, melodic lines, octaves phrases or chords sequences that are fun and filled with the energy and mastery that Mr. Forman always display. It's like Oscar Peterson on guitar !Second, you've got an analysis of each tune, performance notes, key moments and editor's notes that are precious to know what's going on.Whatever your level, tons of informations or phrases you'll have a pleasure to steal and apply.Can't wait for Volume 2, and I hope there will be dozens of others !

Having caught, and still enjoying, most of Bruce Forman's "First Course of the Day" guitar performances, I was/am often left wondering "how did he do that and why?" as in "What were those voicings that just flew by?" and "That chord at the end, wow, what was that!!!???". Well, welcome this book!I like the very personal and thorough treatment of sixteen Etudes, each a choice Jazz songbook tune, from more than one perspective: like having the coach, player and referee all weighing in on a play that you'd like to replay albeit in your own way.Characteristic wit and teaching without pedantry abound. It is a rare and wonderful thing when a great guitar player also contributes generously to help others toward mastery.