Kendor Jazz Releases “Lick Library” Book for Beginning Improvisers

Lakeland, Florida (January 7, 2025) – Kendor Music Publishing announces the new release of Lick Library: Jazz Patterns for Beginning Improvisers by Peter Blair. Created to give developing musicians a reliable start to learning Jazz improvisation, Lick Library contains over 250 example licks that work their way through major, minor, and dominant chords. Packed with resources, Lick Library includes accompaniment tracks at a variety of tempos for all the licks as well as unique “echo tracks” which allow students to hear each lick played by a professional musician to better internalize Jazz phrasing and style.

“From the beginning, my goal with Lick Library was to introduce Jazz vocabulary to students who are just starting their journey into improvisation,” said author and composer Peter Blair. “Since Jazz is an aural language, I included an audio component to Lick Library. More than just including rhythm section accompaniment tracks, we recorded 2-bar licks and set them up as ‘echo track’ exercises. This enables students to hear the lick played with the rhythm section. This unique feature of Lick Library will help students understand and internalize the concept of swing and give them a solid foundation toward improvisation.”

Lick Library is presented in four sections, with each building upon the last. Section One, Major, Dominant, and Minor, introduces a collection of versatile two-bar licks that work when playing over major chords, then dominant chords, and finally, minor chords. Section Two, Chord Progressions, introduces licks that can be played over easy ii7-V7 progressions. Section Three, Expanding and Developing Licks, aids students in creating their own unique phrases. Section 4, Putting it Together, presents longer etudes that give students the opportunity to use all of the techniques and concepts they have learned throughout the rest of the book.

Books are available for the following instruments: Alto & Bari Sax, Tenor Sax, Trumpet/Clarinet, Trombone/Euphonium, and Vibraphone. Lick Library is available for $14.99 per book.