With the growing number of jazz method books appearing on the market, there remains a lack of coherence in the jazz curriculum, both within and without the walls of academia. There is also a distinct shortage of such books written specifically for flutists.

In his recent book The Technique and Theory of Improvisation, jazz flute specialist Bill McBirnie has gone a long way towards solving both problems.

Our editor, himself a jazz flutist and author of The Flute in Jazz, provides an overview of the field followed by a

review of McBirnie’s book.