Develop your Vocabulary Without Limitations
You can create endless possibilities
Review
This book from Isaac Negrene is out of the ordinary. For guitarists, there is an abundance of online lessons available, often for free. So, the question is when should someone spend their hard earned money on a book? Well, This is one of those times.
In Isaac’s new book, he shares out of the box, across the fretboard lines that are VERY DIFFICULT to play but extremely rewarding. These lines use large intervals, legato playing and unconventional fingerings to get more modern sounds. You know, the kind of stuff you hear people like Lage Lund, Mike Moreno, Jonathan Kreisberg, Ben Monder play – that kind of stuff. Cool, difficult, modern and interesting stuff.
I particularly love how he gave nick names to each of the 20 examples. ‘Monster Line Connection’, ‘Spread Fingers’ and ‘Confusion’ should give you an idea of what’s in store. Also, the fragments section at the beginning of the book is helpful for those who want to work in small bite size ideas before trying out the difficult longer full examples.
If you’re a music college student, this is your food. If you’re a contemporary guitarist looking to get new ideas into your playing, this is the real stuff. Like I said, these lines are hard – but man, they sound so good (when you can play them). I’m particularly excited that Isaac has foreshadowed in the introduction of the book that this is the first of 4 volumes that he’s planning to release. There’s more to come!
In conclusion, if you like modern jazz sounds – this is a great book to get.
Pros: Lots of challenging Lines, clearly notated with fingering and pick directions. Audio and video demonstrations useful to hear the lines in context.
Cons: None
TLDR: If you want great sounding challenging modern jazz lines to play on guitar, this is a great book to get.
Az Samad
About me
ABOUT ME
I am a guitarist with over 30 years of experience, also working as a producer, arranger, and teacher. I am currently releasing the fourth volume of the "Modern Linear Vocabulary" collection, recognized worldwide as an innovative and groundbreaking work in modern language for guitarists and instrumentalists.
I am a member of the legendary Banda Black Rio, an icon of Brazilian music from the 70s, and collaborate with the British singer Jesuton. At the same time, I am producing my solo album, which will reflect my musical journey and vision. In October, I will launch a course based on the concepts presented in my books, offering a deeper experience for musicians seeking to expand their skills.
PUBLICATIONS
The "Modern Linear Vocabulary" collection was born from the desire to expand musical vocabulary and melodic possibilities, bringing new colors and ideas capable of transcending conventional scales and patterns.
The goal is to create lines that sound good at any speed or harmony within a key, without being restricted to specific modes or chords. This allows a single idea to be applied to various harmonic qualities, promoting flexibility and innovation.
“In his new book, Isaac presents ideas that explore the entire guitar neck, using wide intervals, legato, and unconventional fingerings. These lines deliver modern and challenging sounds, reminiscent of musicians like Lage Lund, Mike Moreno, Jonathan Kreisberg, and Ben Monder. ‘It’s difficult, but incredibly rewarding.’” (Az Samad)
PERFORMANCES
Throughout my career, I have had the honor of performing at prestigious venues and festivals around the world, such as:
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New Morning (Paris)
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Ronnie Scott's (London)
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MC Theater - Paradiso (Amsterdam)
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Pretol Club (Antwerp - Belgium)
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Rockstore (Montpellier - France)
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Espaço Brasil (Lisbon - Portugal)
I have also participated in major jazz festivals and performances in Buenos Aires (Argentina), Montevideo and Mercedes (Uruguay), Bogotá (Colombia), Madrid and Zaragoza (Spain), among others.
As a sideman, I have collaborated with renowned artists such as Ed Motta, Elza Soares, Chico César, Cláudio Zoli, Toni Garrido, Tony Tornado, Pee Wee Ellis (James Brown), Guida de Palma (Portugal), Jesuton, and Heidi Vogel (England).
My mission is to expand musical horizons and create unique connections through music. Each project is an opportunity to transform experiences into something relevant and inspiring.