I’m a fan of books. I love the expectation that comes from choosing and opening a new book, hoping to find some new secrets, tips, or techniques that will help me to grow and learn.

For new saxophone players today there seems to be an endless amount of study books and practice guides but unfortunately many don’t really deliver what they promise. So it was with some eagerness and anticipation that I opened this intriguingly titled edition by American jazz educator Greg Fishman.

So what do lobsters have to do with learning jazz?

Greg is a brilliant jazz educator. In this book, he has assembled a collection of short stories that he uses as analogies for learning aspects of jazz harmony and improvisation. Far from being a dry and complicated book, Greg makes learning some really important theoretical concepts loads of fun, and more importantly, memorable.

Through stories like The Bus, Polishing Silver, Ketchup on a Brownie, and The Snake, Greg explores important concepts like timing, melodic approach, and harmonic knowledge in a way that is both accessible to new players and refreshing to experienced ones. As an educator myself I really enjoyed his approach and found myself eagerly turning to the next page.

If you’re looking for a technique book packed with scales and exercises then this is not the right one for you. If however, you are learning jazz or just looking for some inspiration on your jazz journey then check out The Lobster Theory. You’ll find yourself thinking about snakes, buses, and cupcakes – and it will definitely help your approach to learning and playing!
Nigel McGill