Jazz Composition and Arranging
The text is organized very well. It flows from topic to topic in the most logical manner and the writing style is clear and concise. The order of presentation is excellent. By starting with the basic principles of composition (instead of the ranges of the saxophone, for example) the author is allowed to expound ideas of a very conceptual nature (i.e. melody, harmony, rhythm) before getting into the nitty-gritty of ranges, transpositions etc. Thus, the student is not weighed down with memorization; instead, he/she is given the broader view first, which I prefer."The Author speaks with the authority of one who has an extensive background as a composer and practical practitioner, while bringing to the subject a highly sophisticated classical, theoretical background.