Quote:
Originally Posted by David Powell
I have a question for Paul, which I know is going to be answerable in general that there is a lot of overlap and differing opinions but here goes:
One of the ensembles I play in is billed as a jazz ensemble. Apparently jazz is a lot of different things to different ears. Recently we were asked to incorporate "Moon River", "Chatanooga Choo-Choo", "Sentimental Journey", and some tunes like those into our list for that client's party. We obliged of course because the gig paid well, but our varied repertoire includes mostly Real Book tunes that I consider jazz standards like Satin Doll, Gee Baby Ain't I Good, Footprints, Shine, Limehouse Blues, Caravan, All Blues, Angel Eyes, etc. I know in just what I've listed we cross some sub genres already. So the question is what really are the sub genres of jazz and what characterizes them and what is definitely not jazz, but just a pop tune from the "jazz era"?
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Taking a toon like Moon River and 'Jazzing it up' is not that hard. Just walk 4 thru the word Moon and 4 thru Riverrr... And you have your tempo. Not too fast, maybe Quarter note = 60 fpr slow and 90 for medium up-tempo. Chatanooga is harder to convert away from its already well known 40s swing tempo. I actually was the Bassist on the Columbia House re-issues of the Glen Miller Band recordings back around 1972 with leader Buddy DeFranco so I know that tune somewhat.
What makes a Jazz tune or not to the average 'Joe' is a tune that was made famous publicly as a Jazz tune like 'Green Dolphin Street' for instance. That song was actually a ballad from an old movie called "On Green Dolphin Street' which takes place in some Norwegian fishing village. Imagine being up at 3 or 4am and a late movie comes on as you're dozing off and you hear this slow tune that rings a bell. Then you look up and see the title flash across the screen and it's the same as a Jazz tune you've played all your life but never had a clue where it came from. Well, thanks for Jazz, that tune is now a Standard. If left to the movie, it would have been long forgotten.
So, if it swings, let it rip. I have heard some tunes that one would have never guessed in a decade would be used as a jazz tune. Oh, one other. Once on a Duo gig in NY at a sports bar the pianist starts playing 'Take me out to the Ball Game'. For real... This was done as a medium swing tempo. Now, this is one of the few tunes in the world I could actually sing but never in my life had played it much less knew the changes to it..lol... The short story, he never called me again for another gig.. Sensitive people...
