Transcribed Tune Titles

01. Serenata Burlesca
02. Will You Still Be Mine
03. Easy Living
04. TV Theme To Route 66
05. When Lights Are Low
06. Hoe Down
07. Shiny Stockings
08. Down Under
09. Li'l Darlin'
10. Bluesette
11. Cute
12. Chim Chim Cheree
13. Autumn Leaves
14. Mr. Lucky
15. Winchester Cathedral
16. If She Walked Into My Life
17. The Face I Love
18. It's About Time
19. Serenata

Reviews And Comments About The Howard Roberts Book

Review In The Feb. '07 Vintage Guitar Magazine By Wolf Marshall

This long awaited book is a treasure. It's been years since anything has been done to explore the playing and life of Howard Roberts, and at the outset it has to be said that author Mitch Holder has done an exemplary job in filling that vacuum. By way of introduction, Holder was one of HR's longest-standing students, has been a sought-after and productive studio guitarist since the seventies and is a superb jazz player in his own right and one of the leading exponents of the Howard Roberts approach. He not only writes about the music, he lives it.

Now on to the book itself-first, the music. This volume contains the requisite transcriptions from HR's various albums across three decades (the 1950's through the '70's) and is happily front-loaded with some of his greatest numbers of the sixties, arguably his most prolific and definitive period. Savvy fans of jazz guitar will appreciate the inclusion of "When Lights Are Low," "Hoe Down," "Shiny Stockings," "Down Under," and "Li'l Darlin'" from his first two Capitol records, Color Him Funky and HR Is A Dirty Guitar Player. Holder then visits other important tracks from HR's later Capitol era like "Bluesette," "Cute," "Autumn Leaves", "Mr. Lucky", "If She Walked Into My Life", and "Chim, Chim, Cheree." Holder added the Van Ep-style chord-melody rendition of "Winchester Cathedral" and HR's signature version of "Serenata."

The entire transcription collection is rounded out with earlier tunes from the '50's such as the experimental "Serenata Burlesca," a bebop outing "Will You Still Be Mine," HR's chord-melody reading of "Easy Living" and even a sample of HR's studio playing on the TV theme from "Route 66." These pieces provide greater historic context and a far more extensive portrait of HR's multivarious and evolving style. For the uninitiated (and even aficionados) Holder has provided useful introductory sections on HR's tone, strings, picks, fingerings and helpful performance notes for his transcriptions. Moreover, jazz guitarist and former HR student Michael Anthony collaborated on the transcriptions by lending his expertise in reviewing, editing and adding personal fingerings and position markings to the music. Since the music is presented in notation only these suggestions are a useful and necessary addition.

Holder put considerable thought into the appendices of his book. These include detailed accounts of HR's numerous guitars, the full story of his creation of Epiphone and Gibson Howard Roberts signature models and an essay on the Benson amplifiers he played and endorsed by Ron Benson himself. A third appendix contains a selected discography which spotlights HR's work as a solo artist, his contributions to numeroous Top 20 hit singles and a partial but nonetheless sprawling list of the TV and movie soundtracks in which he was featured. Holder's 112-page book is complemented with a number of thoughtful personal touches, like a foreword by HR disciple Lee Ritenour, a dedication by Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, rememberances by Michael Anthony and Bob Bain, a substantial biography and lengthy reminiscence section with quotes and tributes from the likes of Carol Kaye, Herb Ellis, Johnny Smith, Jimmy Bruno, Howard Alden, Tim May, Jimmy Stewart, Dave Grusin and many other friends and musical colleagues. Moreover, the book is peppered with numerous historic photos; several of them printed here for the first time.

Bottom line: This is a bonanza for fans of jazz guitar; make that-fans of guitar, period. HR lives.--Wolf Marshall

Vintage Guitar Magazine Website

By Lee Prosser at jazzreview.com:

"If you like the work of Howard Roberts, or would like an introduction, this is the perfect way to get it. Mitch Holder has done a masterful job of putting the book together. Congratulations to Holder and Mel Bay Publications for making this book a reality. A fine job!"

Click here to read the full review

From Renowned Jazz Guitarist, Howard Alden in Just Jazz Guitar Magazine:

"This book gives us a great picture of this charismatic, innovative and influential guitarist and teacher. For those not familiar with Howard Roberts, this book provides a great introduction to his music and ideas and to those already aware of him, it provides a welcome, deeper picture of both the man and the music. A great addition to any guitarist's library!"

From guitarist/writer/educator, Charles Alexander, director of Jazzwise Publications Limited in the UK:

"I wanted to express my admiration for your wonderful book on Howard Roberts and his music. It's great to read all the appreciations of Howard from his fellow musicans, the articles on his sound, his guitars and the Benson amplifiers, plus the discography, the recording and movie soundtrack credits. But above all, I love the transcriptions. No tablature, but fingered-the best way! Congratulations on a fine piece of work."

From Ian Macgregor of The Jazz Guitar Society Of Western Australia:

"This book is a great tribute to one of the icons of jazz guitar and Mitch Holder should be congratulated for not only compiling a treasure chest of HR's career and life, but for bringing to the attention of the world a reminder of this great player's achievements."