Additional information
by Ariel J. Ramos (Author)
UST Jazz Piano Chord Voicings Vol. 2 to 9 Compact is the complete set of volumes for the mDecks UST practice method containing all possible upper structure triads combination in the IIm7 V7 progression in all twelve keys. This Compact version contains an exercise in all twelve keys for every possible UST combination over the IIm7 V7 progression in just one inversion.
The Extended version contains exercises for each key for every UST combination over the IIm7 V7 progression in all inversions.
For the jazz piano player, chord voicings is an essential skill, not only for comping (accompanying or laying the chord progression for other players to improvise in) but also to use those voicings as an improvisational aid. All piano players get many melodic ideas or lines from their voicings. There are many ways of practicing and developing a Jazz voicing language. We all know how massive the amount of available combinations is, it seems almost infinite.
A standard approach in creating, learning and/or developing voicings is stacking simple voicings/structures on top of other simple ones. In this manner a richer and more complex sound is created. These structures/chords/voicings are usually called Upper Structures
Author Biography
Composer and pianist Ariel J. Ramos is a graduate of Berklee College of Music in Boston and has been performing, teaching piano, and working with independent filmmakers since 1997. He is a first place recipient of the Cluzeau-Mortet piano competition and was awarded the Berklee Writing and Composition Scholarhsip. Ariel Ramos is author of a wide array of books in the mDecks Series including UST Jazz Piano Voicings collection, Reconstructing a Bach Fugue, and Piano Technique Vol. 1. In addition, Mr. Ramos has composed soundtracks for countless films and TV series including Warner Bros's Terminator: The Sarah Connors Chronicles and Pushing Daisies (TV series IDs for Latin America). Ariel's studios and offices are now located in South Florida where he composes music for film, TV and chamber music, and arranges from small ensemble to full orchestra. Beyond his writing of books and his prolific composition Ariel also is a highly sought after pianist, performing jazz, latin and chamber music in South Florida. Finally, Mr. Ramos is a renowned piano, theory and composition educator.
