Mike Greensill

Playing for Singers

Playing For Singers explores, in depth, the art of accompaniment for the jazz or cabaret pianist.

In Playing for Singers veteran Mike Greensill brings his many years of accompanying experience to bear in exploring, in detail, the in's and out's of the accompanist's art as it applies to the performance of the 'Great American Songbook'.

Topics Covered Include:

- How to accompany singers as a solo pianist.
- Duo and Trio accompaniment - What happens when we add bass and drums?
- The art of 'out of tempo' accompaniment
- The accompanist as arranger/composer, including the skills needed to put together readable, good looking charts.
- The accompanist as music director - A survey of all the myriad duties of a musical director, from conducting the band, to running rehearsals, to helping write and organize vocalist's shows.
- Nuggets of wisdom from the great accompanists - accompaniment philosophies and tricks of the trade from Norman Simmons, Jimmy Rowles, Bill Charlap, Christian Jacob, Tedd Firth, Sir Richard Rodney Bennett, and more.
- A useful book for singers, as well as pianists, since it sheds much light on the intimate relationship between the two!
- 121 pages, including numerous musical examples.