Mark Levine

This sprawling book is divided into three parts, and touches on many diverse subjects that fall under its larger themes of globalization and Middle Eastern attitudes toward the West. LeVine, a professor of Middle Eastern history and a musician who has recorded with musicians as diverse as Mick Jagger and Hassan Hakmoun, clearly has an interest in music and its potential for bridge-building. He includes a chapter on "Rock and Resistance in the Middle East and North Africa" and advocates for what he calls "culture jamming," or bringing people together to "build an alternative to imperialism, occupation, intolerance, and violence."

According to Mark Levine, a great jazz solo consists of

• 1% magic
• 99% stuff that is explainable, analysable, categorisable, and doable

This book is mostly about the 99% stuff.

Endorsed by Kenny Barron, Jamey Aebersold, Richie Beirach, and more, this book presents all the information a student of jazz piano needs in an easy-to-understand, yet thorough, manner. For intermediate to advanced pianists, written by one of the acknowledged masters of jazz piano playing.