The Best of Stevie Wonder.

by Todd Lowry. Hal Leonard Corporation (7777 W. Bluemound Rd., P.O. Box 13819, Milwaukee, WI 53213), 2002. 31 pp., $22.95. Intermediate.

The Best of Stevie Wonder is a new publication of Hal Leonard's Keyboard Signature Licks featuring such artists as Ben Folds Five, Billy Joel, and Lennon and McCartney. The books attempt to teach pianists the techniques and styles used by these artists; thus, it is more of a study guide of the keyboard part rather than a performance volume of the total song. The CD, packaged with the book, is a recording of the keyboard parts without melody, as well as notable keyboard parts played at a slower speed.

The book will appeal to pianists who want to play in the style of Stevie Wonder or play Wonder's songs from a lead sheet in the appropriate style. One will get the most out of it if both an acoustic piano and synthesizer are available. Piano students may be disappointed if they choose the volume, since the vocal line does not appear in the piano part. I think the intermediate student would enjoy playing the keyboard parts if he or she records the melody line and plays it back while performing the keyboard part.

...