"Since 1979 Sher Music has established a standard for jazz publishing which is unbeatable as far as presentation and detailed accuracy are concerned.

There is much advanced music in the book's 400+ pages, all composed by European musicians (not necessarily living in Europe at present). Styles vary from 1950s bebop to today's eclecticism. From Britain, Tim Garland, Tommy Smith, Mark Lockheart and others are represented; Italy has pieces by Enrico Pieranunzi, the bop-inspired Antonio Farao and Dado Moroni. Belgium has its place through the older school of Thielemans, Catherine and Rene Thomas. France, the Netherlands, Germany and Poland have their place, together with a few emigrant Russians such as New York based Nick Levinovsky.

Scandinavia is somewhat thinly represented but Sweden and Denmark (not Norway, surprisingly enough) have a handful of fine pieces from the likes of Lars Jansson and Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen.

A major advantage of the book is that many recordings of the included compositions can be accessed on the publisher's website as mp3 files. Readers can log in to www.shermusic.com and hear (often) the composers playing their own work. A most useful teaching tool!

This is a book for working jazz musicians and serious jazz students at an affordable price. There is a wealth of fine music here just waiting to be played."

Rating: 20/09/2006 By: Dr. James W. Dickenson