Master Index

Master Index
PDF, 906Kb
to be used with The Real and The New Real Book, Colorado and many others

The Real Book Volumes 1, 2 & 3

The Real Book

Volume 1 (51Mb)

Volume 2 (46Mb);

Volume 3 (30Mb)
PDF, 3 Independente Files
all around 400 pages each one

Bassist Steve Swallow and pianist Paul Bley are rumored to have been responsible for producing lead sheets for the book. This would explain why compositions by Swallow, Bley, and their friends (e.g., Chick Corea) are heavily represented in The Real Book alongside jazz standards and classic jazz compositions. There is also speculation that composer Stu Balcomb was heavily involved in putting the book together, given his credit in Swallow's album "Real Book" for "cover graphics", and given the presence of several of his tunes in the book. The handwriting in the Real Book matches that in the liner notes for the album as well, suggesting that the whole book was written out by Swallow. Three volumes of The Real Book were produced — volumes 1 and 2 are printed in characteristically 'rough' handwriting and transcription, while the third volume is typeset on a computer.