With a pedagogy developed as the result of 35 years of teaching jazz composition to the best and brightest at the University of Miami, this book, now in its third printing, has become the standard by which all modal jazz composition books will be judged.
If you are particularly touched by the compositional styles of Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Kenny Wheeler, and Ralph Towner, to name a few, then this is the book for you.
Available from many locations; highly recommended is Jamey Aebersold.
Modal jazz Composition and Harmony Vol. 2, Advance Music
A continuation of the above, this volume includes concepts of melody writing, reharmonization techniques, and concepts of using world-music as a point of departure.
Available from many locations; highly recommended is Jamey Aebersold.
Jazz Piano and Keyboard Harmony Vol. 1, by Ron Miller, RonJam Music
This book is the basis for the keyboard and keyboard harmony skills as required by all Jazz studies students at the University of Miami. The emphasis of this volume is accompanying and includes materials to assist the composer/arranger with a desire to use the keyboard as a writing tool. The book was also set up to be of use to the Jazz Vocalist having a desire to learn to accompany his or herself in a performing situation. Sample Pages (PDF) Table of contents (PDF)
Available from many locations; highly recommended is Jamey Abersold
The Ron Miller Songbook, by Ron Miller, Advance Music
This book contains a selection of 40 of Ron Miller's most often performed and recorded as well as Ron's personal favorites of his 100+ published compositions. The style categories include modal/romantic, hardbop, newbop, fusion, and avant-garde compositions. There is included a brief musical and historical description of each tune along with performance directions and a source of recordings.
Available from Jamey Aebersold.
Jazz Composition - the Creative Process by Ron Miller, RonJam Music
This book was written to fullfill reqests from students who wanted to know more about what actually occurs when one sits down to compose and how to organize the creative process. A perfect accompaniment to the Jazz Comp books listed above, this book includes ancillary materials to those books in addition to the creative process materials. Sample Pages (PDF)
Soon to be available as an update in both paper and iBook format.
A Guide to Jazz Composition and Arranging by Jerry Coker, Advance Music
Although every one of Jerry Coker's books can be highly recommended, this and the following are particularly in resonance with Ron's books and would be perfect to be studied along with Ron's.
Available from many locations; highly recommended is Jamey Aebersold
Hearin' the Changes by Jerry Coker, Advance Music
A most sorely needed book as the title implies; this book is exceptional for its use both in composition and improvisation studies.
Available from many locations; highly recommended is Jamey Aebersold