This valuable book is for band musicians who love the exciting sound of riff-driven uptown blues and swing music. Book and CD - Standard Notation - Tablature Technical ability: Early intermediate Application: Hobbyist to professional This unique collection of forty-eight 12-bar riffs provides some great ideas for spicing up the blues songs your band plays. In music, a riff is a repeating pattern, often played against a chord or chord progression. Horn riffs played over twelve-bar blues progressions add drive, variety, identity, and excitement to a song. Examples of riff songs include Now"s the Time by Charlie Parker; In the Mood by Glenn Miller; and Rock Around the Clock by Bill Haley and the Comets. A twelve-bar riff is a versatile arranging tool, and can be used as a tune head, solo, backing for a solo, or backing behind a singer. Riffs can be worked into most any medium-to uptempo blues song. Although most riffs are fairly easy to play, and easy to apply to blues progressions, many bands neglect this important aspect of arranging and performance. For the student, riffs provide excellent practice for sight-reading rhythms. And an emerging blues musician can actually play a 12-bar riff as a solo. Improvising musicians might use riffs as motifs upon which to base solos. Arrangers are encouraged to develop the riffs into two-or three-part section harmony parts. It is a superb reference for the jazz and blues song writer, composer, or arranger. Invaluable also for the school stage band or jazz band musician. Great stuff here with lots of potential for all swing band and blues band musicians. Companion CD includes all 48 riffs, played on tenor sax with full rhythm backing. Coil bound for your convenience.