The Real Book - Volume I - Sixth Edition - Mini Edition: C Edition

This is the "pocket-size" version of the official Hal-Leonard real book Vol. 1. Which is to say: every tune and chart is exactly as what's on the "big" version (10.9 x 8.8 x 1.1 inches). This unfortunately also means that the notable omissions from real book vol. 1 - as compared to the legendary original bootleg version - are missing in this pocket version too (for me, "Days of Wine and Roses" and "Spain" are 2 of the worst omissions - how can you NOT have these 2??).

This book, though, remains invaluable. It's incredibly portable due to it's size, and I've played numerous concert/wedding/corporate/pub gigs this year relying solely on it. The size is reduced compared to its original big brother version, but it's still clearly readable in any dim stage/pub light conditions - even charts with long bebop lines such as "Confirmation" or "Donna Lee". If you're a student going through music college (like I was until this winter), you'll love the fact that you can shove this into your backpack everyday without worrying about it taking up space.

All in all, a must-have for any gigging musician.

These aren't necessarily the best charts for all the tunes, but nearly all of the charts are decent charts good enough to get you started or fake it as needed. Anyone who's proficient at jazz should be able to quickly see where the charts are simpler than should be, or add unnecessary color -- and also to mentally rearrange to suit what they're trying to say. For beginners though experts, it's an excellent reference. Also, for beginners, Volume I is indeed the place to start.

Best of all, though, these charts are LEGAL. Copyright holders are either paid or have signed off.

I often compare these arrangements to the ones on iRealB (the most common app used for charts in jazz circles). It's pretty even on which has the better chart for a given tune, and usually they're pretty close. Of course, the app is nice because I can change the key, or have the app play the tune if I don't quite understand the arrangement.

For those of you familiar with the original Real Books, you know they are both illegal and replete with errors. With this series, Hal Leonard has obtained the proper permissions for the standards all jazz students need to study. He has also supposedly corrected the transcription errors of the original Real Books and added a few tunes that weren't in them. However, though I am far from an expert, it is my opinion that certain errors appear in this book as well, though they are few and far between. I subtracted a star for that reason. This particular book is the pocket sized version of the full sized Real Book by the same company and has all the same tunes in it. I own both. The smaller one is, however, highly readable and a lot more portable. The truth be told, you can do with just this one without owning the full sized one too.

This collection of tunes may only have 20-40% that you recognize but it is still a powerful resource. I use it two ways: one is as a practice source where I essentially randomly open it and then page through sequentially playing tunes for 20-30 pages and marking (by turning down the page corner) those that I like the most - after a while I just move to the previously marked pages for further practice emphasizing tone and interpretation. The second use is related to the ubiquity of it in that many small ensemble players have the version for the key of their instrument and it can be valuable using it as a base when small ensembles are forming. Personally I like to have C, Bb & Eb versions available, in part because I'm a doubler, but also for more spontaneous settings.

The Real Book has been the definitive source and a pivot point for both aspiring jazz students and the careers of professionals for decades.

While some criticize the originators of the Real Book, accusing them of being copyright pirates, others like myself and every other jazz musician I've associated with over the past 35 years, herald them as anonymous pioneers.(let's not forget Robin Hood, Zorro, William Wallace, and other so called bandits who were heros in the eyes of the less fortunate).

The gods of copyright and licensing are necessary, however, regarding this matter, they have been the keeper of the keys (no pun intended), waging a half century vigil of attempting to force students to pay $$$ to play music, and thus restricting access to an art form to only those able to afford it.

Imagine, just how many jazz greats may have never been, having never been exposed as students to the inspiring pages of the Real Book!(I hesitate to list any names, lest it fill a hundred pages). And how many people may have never even heard this great music had it not been for the "original" authors of the Real Book.

I for one, and "one for all", thank those pirates of the pages for making accessible to both musician and listener alike, the art form known as Jazz!

In any event, buy this book! pass it on to your friends, family, and peers... it is a work of "art" and a true classic in its own right... I believe most of the composers, if alive, would approve.

P.S. Hat's off to Hal Leanord,,,? well maybe a tip a'the hat, but Carl Rothman in his review (when he mentioned illegal) neglected to mention that the majority of music found in the pages of the Original Real Book, is no longer eligible for copyright protection!

Fact: Copyright protection is for 50 years and that's it! It's now 2010 and many of these compositions were published long before 1960, and thus are now public domain.

Anyway, thank you Hal for carrying on an established tradition for all, and Carl, sorry, but hat's off to the so called pirates!

This is not a good choice. The music is so small it is hard to read.

I love this book but have to return it for the larger size. Somehow I ordered a 5x7 :D Just be careful when you order.

Compact and easier to transport than the larger version

Great songs to practice with in here.... Accurate transcriptions.

Very nicely bound, good print and paper