Solo Jazz Piano: The Linear Approach

Solo Jazz Piano - 2nd Edition by Neil Olmstead is a comprehensive Berklee Guide for pianists who want to build a confident, independent voice in solo jazz improvisation. Rooted in the linear concepts pioneered by piano greats Lenny Tristano and Dave McKenna, this methodical approach presents a structured path to improvisation-designed to expand clarity, control, and creative freedom at the keyboard.

The book begins with a review of chord symbol interpretation, walks through bass line development, and ends with how to play several melodic lines simultaneously in stimulating musical conversation. Twenty-one progressive lessons include detailed explanations, written exercises, and tunes based on jazz standards. Notated transcriptions of sample improvisations illustrate each lesson’s technique, and the included online audio-accessible via a unique code-lets you hear these ideas put into action by a master improviser. The audio features Hal Leonard’s PLAYBACK+ tools, enabling tempo adjustment without pitch change, looping, key changes, and stereo panning for focused practice.

More than a collection of exercises, this method develops the ability to create solos that both embellish and support the melody. You’ll learn to use lead sheets as springboards for generating your own musical ideas, strengthening harmonic awareness, rhythmic flexibility, and independence between hands. Teachers will appreciate the clear, sequential approach, while self-directed learners gain a reliable framework for steady improvement.

Contents
Twenty-one lesson tunes based on jazz standards

Whether used in private study, collegiate instruction, or dedicated practice at home, this edition offers a thoughtful and practical path into solo jazz piano improvisation. It’s a meaningful addition to any serious pianist’s library and a lasting gift for musicians committed to refining their craft.

I recommend this well conceived and researched book. The tunes that Neil uses as a base for his etudes are wonderful. --Dave McKenna, jazz pianist

Solo Jazz Piano includes a wide variety of techniques and ideas that are certain to captivate students and teachers alike. It shows how to apply these ideas, step-by-step, in a very clear, interesting, and practical manner. I highly recommend it to those aspiring to develop a solid foundation of solo jazz piano playing. --Joanne Brackeen, composer, jazz pianist, Professor, Berklee College of Music

At last, a book that gives the student solo pianist insight as to how to break away from stride and explore the more profound aspects of jazz time and improvisation. --Alan Broadbent, pianist, composer, arranger