So, jazz piano enthusiasts! If you’re looking for a new addition to your sheet music collection, I’ve got just the thing for you. I recently picked up the Best Smooth Jazz: Jazz Piano Solos Series Volume 50 (Jazz Piano Solos, 50). And, I can’t wait to share my thoughts with you. 

As a competent pianist who struggles with improvisation, I was thrilled to find a series that offers rich and approachable arrangements. Stick around as I walk you through the pros and cons of this book. I’ll provide a quick verdict to help you gauge whether it’s worth adding to your repertoire.

Pros and Cons

What We Liked

  • The arrangements are perfect for competent pianists like me who struggle with improvisation. I found them to be challenging yet enjoyable to play.
  • The quality of the cover and pages is top-notch. The paper is sturdy, and the notes are printed clearly, making for a comfortable playing experience.
  • The pieces are fun to try out. They strike the perfect balance between accessibility and complexity for intermediate and advanced players.
  • The series offers a wide range of jazz piano solos. This way, players have a diverse selection to explore and master.
  • The book is a great value for the price. This is particularly true if you consider the high-quality arrangements and the hours of enjoyment it provides.

What Can Be Improved

  • Beginners or those unused to uneven counts in jazz may find the pieces challenging to play.
  • Some pieces require 8 notes on each hand and plenty of sharps and flats. This can be daunting for some players.

Quick Verdict

If you’re a competent pianist looking for rich and approachable jazz piano arrangements, the Best Smooth Jazz: Jazz Piano Solos Series Volume 50 is a fantastic choice! The quality of the cover and pages, the challenging yet enjoyable pieces, and the diverse selection make it a valuable investment for any jazz enthusiast. I highly recommend checking it out here.

Unboxing – What’s Inside?

I recently purchased the Best Smooth Jazz Piano Solos Series Volume 50 from Amazon to add to my collection of jazz sheet music

The delivery was surprisingly fast, and I received the product within 2 days of placing the order. When I opened the package, I found the book in perfect condition, neatly wrapped in plastic.

Specifications

  • Publication date: January 1, 2018
  • Print length: 96 pages
  • Dimensions: 9 x 0.27 x 12 inches
  • Item Weight: 11.2 ounces
  • ISBN-13: 978-1495093494
  • ISBN-10: 1495093492
  • Publisher: Hal Leonard (January 1, 2018)

Documentation

The user guide for the Best Smooth Jazz Piano Solos was extremely helpful in understanding each piece’s musical notation and interpretation. It provided valuable insights into the dynamics and articulation required to play these jazz piano solos. You’ll find the user guide here.

Features – What We Found

Beautiful Jazz Piano Solos

As a jazz enthusiast, I was thrilled to find that this book contains a collection of beautiful jazz piano solos

The arrangements are well-crafted and capture the essence of smooth jazz, making it a joy to play. Each piece is expertly notated, allowing me to easily learn and perform my favorite jazz tunes.

Pro-tip: To add flair to the piano solos, try experimenting with different dynamics and tempos to make each piece your own.

Diverse Selection of Jazz Standards

If you’re a fan of jazz piano music, you’ll appreciate the diverse selection of jazz standards in this volume. 

From classic tunes to contemporary favorites, this book has something for every jazz pianist. I found it especially helpful to have all these timeless pieces in one collection, making it convenient to practice and perform.

Explore the diverse selection of jazz piano solos in Best Smooth Jazz: Jazz Piano Solos Series Volume 50 and enhance your repertoire.

Intermediate to Advanced Level Arrangements

The arrangements in this volume are suitable for pianists at an intermediate to advanced level. Each piece presents a delightful challenge, allowing me to improve my skills while enjoying the process.

I appreciated the attention to detail in the notation. It provided me with a clear roadmap to mastering each jazz piano solo.

Expressive Interpretations

One of the standout features of this book is the opportunity to explore expressive interpretations of jazz piano solos. 

The arrangements offer room for creativity. This enables me to infuse my playing with emotion and personality. I found that experimenting with different articulations and phrasing added depth to my performances. This captures the essence of smooth jazz to a T. 

Pro-tip: To enhance your expressive interpretations, pay close attention to the nuances of each jazz piano solo. These range from the subtle rubato to the nuanced dynamics.

Engaging Performance Notes

Delve into the engaging performance notes included with each jazz piano solo. These notes provide valuable insights into the music’s stylistic elements and historical context. They enrich my understanding and appreciation of each piece. 

Figuring out the music background has deepened my connection to the jazz standards, enhancing my overall performance.

Our Review and Score

Our Score: 95.0

I recently purchased the Best Smooth Jazz: Jazz Piano Solos Series Volume 50, and I must say that it exceeded my expectations. These arrangements are perfect for me as a competent pianist who struggles with improvisation. 

The pieces are rich and well-crafted, yet approachable enough for me to spend hours playing through them. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a great collection of jazz piano solos.

The quality of the book is also worth mentioning. The cover and pages are of good quality, and all the notes are printed clearly, making playing very comfortable. 

I would say the level is intermediate and higher, as the pieces require a certain proficiency level. However, this book is perfect if you’re looking for a fun challenge and enjoy jazz. You can find the Best Smooth Jazz: Jazz Piano Solos Series Volume 50 on Amazon.

Overall, I am thoroughly impressed with this book. The arrangements are fantastic, the quality is top-notch, and the overall experience of playing these pieces is simply wonderful. If you’re a pianist looking to expand your repertoire with some great jazz pieces, I highly recommend trying this book.

Best Combination

When immersing yourself in the musical world of Best Smooth Jazz: Jazz Piano Solos Series Volume 50, you should consider adding Smooth Jazz: Jazz Piano Solos Series Volume 7 to your collection, too. 

This alternate piano solo series provides a diverse range of jazz piano arrangements, which will perfectly complement the selections in the main product.

So, whether you’re looking for a different challenge, style, diversity, value, or specific artist, there are plenty of reasons to consider this alternate product before making your final decision.