Bilbo Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 Prompted by responses to the guy who is gooing to play jazz at the Jazz Cafe..... Some jazz standards are just sickeningly over played and almost always suck. OK, I accept that it is still possible to do something creative with them if you are Iain Ballamy but, in the main, these 'evergreens' keep appearing at jam sessions etc being played badly by people that can't play. I have heard (and played) them all a million times but now refuse to play them (really, I do). Its the jazz equivalent of 'James Galway plays The Beatles'. So I am starting a campaign to have them banned. The offending tunes are: Fever Mercy, Mercy, Mercy Canteloupe Island Watermelon Man Summertime Mac The Knife Tenor Madness Please feel free to add any jazz standards you consider banal, boring or just bad. I get the last say Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Horse Murphy Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 - Autumn Leaves - Harlem Nocturne - Straight no chaser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted July 16, 2008 Author Share Posted July 16, 2008 Billie's Bounce!! Blue Monk!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6stringbassist Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 (edited) Definitely Blue Monk, we used to do that but haven't for ages now. I personally hate Blue Bossa. I actually really like Chameleon. Edited July 16, 2008 by 6stringbassist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRev Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 Girl from Ipanema. Someone did Summertime at an open mic last night, we almost started throwing things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBeefChief Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 - Particle - Creosote Man - Hairy Whistle - Sketchy Trombone All very tiresome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 [quote name='bilbo230763' post='240952' date='Jul 16 2008, 03:23 PM']....it is still possible to do something creative with them if you are Iain Ballamy....[/quote] Isn't Iain Ballamy in the Archers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassace Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 [quote name='TheRev' post='240995' date='Jul 16 2008, 03:57 PM']Girl from Ipanema.[/quote] +1. It's been done to death. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakenewmanbass Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 [quote name='TheRev' post='240995' date='Jul 16 2008, 03:57 PM']Girl from Ipanema.[/quote] Can't agree, it's got the best middle section in the real book. If you can make a really good improvisation in that section you can really play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bnt Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 [quote name='chris_b' post='241011' date='Jul 16 2008, 04:10 PM']Isn't Iain Ballamy in the Archers?[/quote] I know he was in Earthworks with Django Bates, not sure what he's up to these days. Anyone mentioned [i]All Of Me[/i] yet? [i]Take The A Train[/i], or [i]The Lady Is A Tramp[/i]? I still like [i]Linus and Lucy[/i], [i]Goodbye Pork Pie Hat[/i] and [i]Take Five[/i], but I can imagine some people getting tired of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Bassman Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 Bye Bye bloody Blackbird Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xilddx Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 [quote name='jakesbass' post='241081' date='Jul 16 2008, 05:12 PM']Can't agree, it's got the best middle section in the real book. If you can make a really good improvisation in that section you can really play.[/quote] I love Ipanima too! Great number! One I hate to death is Dancing Cheek to Cheek. Bloody despicable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunsfreddy2003 Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 God I am worried now!!! My band plays two of those in our set - Mercy,Mercy,Mercy and Watermelon Man. Mind you the Mercy is done in the Morrissey Mullen style ie very quick and with some rip roaring keys and sax solos and Watermelon Man is done in the Headhunters style which has a real groove and a dirty funk bass sound courtesy of my EBS Bass IQ!!! If they were in the standard jazz style then yes I think they might be classed as PAP. What about Nature Boy? [quote name='bilbo230763' post='240952' date='Jul 16 2008, 03:23 PM']Prompted by responses to the guy who is gooing to play jazz at the Jazz Cafe..... Some jazz standards are just sickeningly over played and almost always suck. OK, I accept that it is still possible to do something creative with them if you are Iain Ballamy but, in the main, these 'evergreens' keep appearing at jam sessions etc being played badly by people that can't play. I have heard (and played) them all a million times but now refuse to play them (really, I do). Its the jazz equivalent of 'James Galway plays The Beatles'. So I am starting a campaign to have them banned. The offending tunes are: Fever Mercy, Mercy, Mercy Canteloupe Island Watermelon Man Summertime Mac The Knife Tenor Madness Please feel free to add any jazz standards you consider banal, boring or just bad. I get the last say [/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Cooke Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 anything that's on a "Best Smooth Jazz Album In The World Ever" compilation... the problem is the punters expect to hear you play it exactly like it is on the record... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Horse Murphy Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 (edited) [quote name='BigBeefChief' post='241008' date='Jul 16 2008, 04:08 PM']- Sketchy Trombone[/quote] Oh come on!! Turnham Green and his Young Jazz Lido do a fantastic version of this. I can't believe anyone would hate that tune the way they play it.... Edited July 16, 2008 by Old Horse Murphy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Bassman Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 [quote name='Gunsfreddy2003' post='241093' date='Jul 16 2008, 05:29 PM']God I am worried now!!! My band plays two of those in our set - Mercy,Mercy,Mercy and Watermelon Man.[/quote] You're worried? My band is called "The Watermelon Men" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aj5string Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 Mine are Take 5 and So what (along with a load mentioned already).... I really like autumn leaves tho, so cant agree with that. Admitadly the way most people play it sucks to high heaven, but if it really swings and doesn't have those god awful cheesy stabs in (ala Cannonball...) it really is a tune :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 [quote name='aj5string' post='241123' date='Jul 16 2008, 05:56 PM']Mine are Take 5 and So what (along with a load mentioned already)....[/quote] If you play just the bassline, its tedious but I tend to play the chords and bassline just to fatten it up a bit. Very do-able with just a piano and drums. ERB is a great instrument to play in jazz trios! My list of tedious covers includes: Basin Street Blues (and a lot of other Dixie) On Broadway All Of Me Green Dolphin Street Watch What Happens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machines Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 Smoke on the Water Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oscar South Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 (edited) Heh, we play Summertime and Fever in my Jazz band, we do pretty unique and entertaining versions of them though and our singer does such a good job of those two that even with a midi backing track they'd probably still be amazing. One Jazz song that I don't specifically hate but do find quite boring to play is 'Fly Me To The Moon', a lot of singers seem to like it but to me it just feels very average.. generic chords, generic melody, generic lyrics etc. plus you always end up playing it in 4/4 because thats the time sig that all the singers learn it in. Edited July 16, 2008 by Oscar South Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 [quote name='Oscar South' post='241155' date='Jul 16 2008, 06:44 PM']One Jazz song that I don't specifically hate but do find quite boring to play is 'Fly Me To The Moon', a lot of singers seem to like it but to me it just feels very average.. generic chords, generic melody, generic lyrics etc. plus you always end up playing it in 4/4 because thats the time sig that all the singers learn it in.[/quote] That one is on my list to learn for playing the chords, harmony and melody on the Shuker 6 when its finished. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 (edited) [quote name='jakesbass' post='241081' date='Jul 16 2008, 05:12 PM']Can't agree, it's got the best middle section in the real book. If you can make a really good improvisation in that section you can really play.[/quote] Love the tune. But i am amazed how many people still get lost in the middle Blue bossa gets done to death. Fly me to the moon...Just " I will survive" really Garry Edited July 16, 2008 by lowdown Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunsfreddy2003 Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 LOL - nice one!!!! [quote name='Mr Bassman' post='241119' date='Jul 16 2008, 05:55 PM']You're worried? My band is called "The Watermelon Men"[/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 (edited) Fly Me to the Moon: Guilty Fever: Guilty We often do these with some unique and discordant bass notes however... Edited July 16, 2008 by yorks5stringer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spinynorman Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 I'm really not into jazz at all, but our ex-keyboard player has decided he is and tried to get me interested in a jam session. Proposed pieces included 'Summertime' and 'Fly Me to the Moon'. I think he got his 'Summertime' from 'Gershwin Made Easy', because the most complex chord in it was D minor. But then I based my 'Fly Me to the Moon' on The Shadows' version, which I don't think went down too well. He hasn't asked again. In our rock band, he wanted to do 'Smoke on the Water', which we did, usually as a very drunk encore. And 'Stairway to Heaven', which we didn't. There's a good version of 'Summertime' by Leslie West Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.gif.9ad672bb8b84505709f76b39c8c256ec.gif)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.