Which is your favourite Jazz Fake Book? I'm looking to buy one, but there are a few on the market. Some reviews say steer clear of some. Is the AB one, one of the best?

I've got a couple (Real books that is - the legal version of the Fake book), but I can't say I've got a favourite - and very ofter neither seem to have the tune I'm looking for! I think there's one that is mostly classic jazz standards which would be good. If you haven't found it already have a browse around jazzwise.com they have lots, and see which catches the eye. Try to get hold of a full list of tunes in each and see which has more of the tunes you want to play. I don't have the ABRSM Real book - one of the things that has put me off is that I think there's a good chunk of tunes written specifically for exams and I can't see myself being in a situation where I would be playing those. The other thought I've had is that there may be some tunes where the chord sequence is simplified for grade 4/5 level players rather than being the more usually played version.

Yes, I've looked on Jazzwise, Musicroom and Amazon over the past few days. Spoilt for choice!

These seem to be the top three for me:

One

Two

Three


It was good advice about the AB book. I hadn't considered it being arranged for Grade 4/5 and that could simplify the original too much.

I'll keep looking though.

I like the Lionel Grigson chord book. It doesn't have melody, just the chords in boxes but for improvisation the layout is a lot more useful- it helps you to learn the chord changes more quickly too. It is available from jazzwise.

Mmmm, that could be useful too. I'd not heard of it before. Thanks.

I have "557 jazz standards - swing to bop". I think is is very good. it contains most of the classic standards and the chords are very accurate (According to a former teacher it is the most accurate fake-book, but I don't know enough to back that up ) . It don't know if they are still in the market though, I haven't seen them in any store recently.

The Real Book volumes 1-3. Sadly the best edition is also the illegal edition, being the 5th edition You can however purchase the new legal 6th edition now published by the Hal Leonard Corp at a fairly decent price but a number of jazz classics are now sadly missing from this new set and they've altered some of the chords which many jazzers preffered. I also enjoy many of the tunes in the ABRSM Real book. Actually used a few of the tunes in those books at jazz gigs.