This post is part of my Quick Takes series – short, focused reviews that highlight key publications for teachers and players.
At the beginning of September 2025, ABRSM announced that for the first time, they would be offering Jazz Piano Performance Grades at Grades 6-8. Completing the ABRSM Jazz Piano journey, the intention is that these exams will give candidates a chance to showcase their musical talents and improvisation skills beyond Grade 5. In addition to the revised syllabus and specification, ABRSM have released a brand new book, ABRSM Jazz Piano Solo Pieces Grades 6-8 (from 2026) which, alongside a companion album of recordings, offers solo piano tunes for List C of the exams, including original pieces and arrangements by a wide range of composers such as Nikki Iles, Julian Joseph, Zoe Rahman, Nikki Yeoh, Andrea Vicari, Robert Mitchell, Gwilym Simcock and Sam Watts.
Key Impressions
If you own some of the other publications, notably the Nikki Iles and Friends series, then there is a considerable amount of duplication here. But, dig deeper, and there is a striking difference. The original arrangements have been adapted to include sections for improvisation, fulfilling the requirements of the new ABRSM Jazz Piano Performance Grades 6-8. This is an important difference, and in each of these sections, suggested note rows are given as a starting point for improvisation.
Of the 15 pieces included, new arrangements include ‘Georgia on My Mind’, ‘Corta-jaca’, and ‘Oh, Lady Be Good’, whilst there are three new pieces, ‘Amalie’ (Robert Mitchell), ‘Fim da Noite’ (Sam Watts) and ‘The Wayfarer’ (Gwilyn Simcock). These are all excellent and certainly comparable in quality to those arrangements adapted from previously published books. A QR code links to the recordings which are available on all major streaming and download services.
Verdict
either written out in full, or that which is almost exclusively designed for improvisation, this volume is a useful addition. The repertoire is well-selected and will be useful and enjoyable whether the ABRSM Jazz Piano exams are used or not. For those who have already played some of these pieces in their original published arrangements, they might also enjoy the opportunity to experiment with improvisation within a structured framework. There is a lot of duplication which perhaps means this volume is not as good value for money as it might have been if you own the other books, but overall, it is a useful and welcome collection, as are the ABRSM Jazz Performance Grades themselves.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Worth exploring
Jazz Performance Grades 6 to 8 are digital exams assessed by a specialist jazz examiner from a video recording. They’ll be available to book, on-demand and worldwide from 5 January 2026.
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Published 18.10.25.
ABRSM Jazz Piano Solo Pieces Grades 6-8 (from 2026) is published by ABRSM, ISBN 9781786011009, RRP £17.95. You can order the volume on Musicroom here, or from your preferred sheet music retailer.
I was sent a review copy of this book free of charge; however, this review is my honest opinion as a teacher. You can find my Reviews Policy here.
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Star ratings reflect my personal opinion based on usefulness, creativity, presentation, and appeal for teachers and players. I only review publications I can genuinely recommend (3 stars and above):
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Worth exploring – A solid and dependable publication with moments of interest.
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Recommended – Thoughtful and well-presented; many teachers and players will enjoy using it.
- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Highly recommended – Beautifully written, inspiring, and one I’ll return to often.
