Hal Galper is not only a great musician, having accompanied jazz giants such as Cannonball Adderley, Phil Woods, John Scofield and Chet Baker on piano, he’s also a great teacher.
His book Forward Motion, previously only available in English, was translated into French by Marie-France Arnou in January 2024.
This text, now available in French, is very important for anyone who wants to better understand the process of improvising jazz. Check it out. Gerard Hagen, IMEP piano teacher
Ingenious ideas from start to finish. Improvisers of all levels will find new ideas in this book alone. Dave Liebman
In Forward Motion, Hal Galper explains that forward motion techniques are based on universal laws of music, which Johann Sebastian Bach was the first to formulate over 200 years ago. Hal Galper makes it clear and simple that music is not static, but constantly moving towards points of rhythmic, melodic and harmonic resolution. It shows how to apply tension/relaxation analysis to rhythm, melody and harmony, how to place the strongest notes of each chord on the downbeats of each bar to spell out the chords that will follow, how to resolve arpeggios to create anticipatory movement, how to use chromatic approaches to enhance solos, and much more.
The book assumes that you’ve been using inappropriate working and playing techniques for long enough that, once you’ve corrected them, you’ll immediately realize their natural relevance, on an intuitive and emotional level. The ear naturally perceives forward motion. Once you’ve learned and practiced this listening technique, you’ll never go back.
Studying Hal Galper’s Forward Motion is without doubt the best method I’ve ever applied to understanding jazz, and indeed music in general. Concise concepts that are easy to understand and apply, presented by a master with a gift for communication. Darcy Hepner, former assistant professor at Berklee College of Music, founder and former director of the music program at Selkirk College in Nelson, Canada.
This book is aimed at intermediate to advanced jazz musicians, whatever their instrument. It contains numerous musical examples, which can be clicked to display and listen to in a browser.
