Must know swing songs

[waveofthinking]

Hi guys can you recommend some swing jazz songs that are a must or most recommended. So far I have "Take A train" and "All of me".

[backup]

well jazz standards exist in many renditions but get your hands on the real books (3vol.) and you will find a lot of swing compositions

[chop_1992]

If you want to get a good overview of swing music in a nutshell, you might check out

1. Benny Goodman & Charlie Christian 1939-41

2. Count Basie Orchestra: Complete Decca Recordings 1937-39

3. and a compilation of Louis Armstrong

With those recordings, you'll hear:
Honeysuckle Rose
Basin Street Blues
St James Infirmary
I Can't Give You Anything BUt Love
Sunny Side of the Street
When the Saints
Pennies from Heaven
Doggin' Around
Blue and Sentimental
Poor Butterfly
Flying Home
Stardust
etc, etc, etc

It's nice to look at some charts to learn some of the standard swing tunes, but it's better to go to the source.

Happy listening!

[WillyJake]

i would never recommend a real book to anyone. Do what John said and listen to the music.

[waveofthinking]

Thanks guys this is some really good information and resources.

[Ed Fuqua]

All of them?

[JohnDavisNYC]

I don't know that one Ed... Schizo version of All Of Me?

J

[Phil Rowan]

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

All of them?

+100

[Bruce Lindfield]

Originally Posted by Phil Rowan

+100

Only 100 - I thought you had to know at least a thousand!?

[dalkowski]

Listen to the Benny Goodman Carnegie Hall Concert. IMO, that's the alpha and omega of true swing — and not just for the songs, but also for the FEEL, which you gotta have.

Also dig into Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, Harry James, Tommy/Jimmy Dorsey, Chick Webb, Fletcher Henderson.

[waveofthinking]

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

All of them?

I'd be intrested as to your input or thoughts.

[Ed Fuqua]

Well, what are you trying to achieve? What's your goal? when you say "most recommended", most recommended for what? To mangle Voltaire, one man's meat is another man's poisson; there 's going to be a wide range of tunes a wide range of folks are going recommend and all of that will be based on their own personal preferences, what they know and are familiar with (and conversely WON'T include tunes they don't know and aren't familiar with) and so on.
By way of analogy, it doesn't matter what directions everyone will recommend you drive in, if you're trying to get someplace specific THOSE are the directions you need.

[hgiles]

Those two definitely! Here are a few in G:

Have You Met Miss Jones
Out of Nowhere
Just Friends

And a few more

In a Mello Tone Ab
Misty Eb

[bassist14]

hey, what about the girl form ip...
oh, no, sorry......

[GrowlerBox]

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

To mangle Voltaire, one man's meat is another man's poisson

Ha! Very good.

And to pick up on your other analogy, as the Irish farmer said to the tourist, "well, I do know the way to Cork, but I wouldn't start from here if I were you".

[waveofthinking]

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

Well, what are you trying to achieve? What's your goal? when you say "most recommended", most recommended for what? To mangle Voltaire, one man's meat is another man's poisson; there 's going to be a wide range of tunes a wide range of folks are going recommend and all of that will be based on their own personal preferences, what they know and are familiar with (and conversely WON'T include tunes they don't know and aren't familiar with) and so on.
By way of analogy, it doesn't matter what directions everyone will recommend you drive in, if you're trying to get someplace specific THOSE are the directions you need.

I play mostly gospel but have noticed that alot of the songs I'm coming across have a heavy jazz influence In terms of walking over progressions and having continously moving basslines. So my objectice is to build a strong foundation on being able to walk through progressions solidly and improvise over songs so I dont have moments where im trying to fill space that's just waiting for a bassline. Eventually id like to get into Bebop and fusion.

[Ed Fuqua]

Not to be too self promotional, but check out this and that. SWING refers to both a general and specific - the feel OR/AND the music of the late 20s through early 40s. You're really talking about the former...

[waveofthinking]

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

Not to be too self promotional, but check out this and that. SWING refers to both a general and specific - the feel OR/AND the music of the late 20s through early 40s. You're really talking about the former...

Yup I'm definately looking for the feel..lol.. I'm gonna pick up that book as soon as possible and gonna start your method when I get home.

One more question: I''ve picked the following tune to apply your method: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ST42rvhyeII is the melody the line being played by the sax?

[Ed Fuqua]

I wouldn't use big band recordings to get the melody, look for small band stuff or singers.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zvvYv2rzuF0

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2gfhQ91rwZ8

[waveofthinking]

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

I wouldn't use big band recordings to get the melody, look for small band stuff or singers.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zvvYv2rzuF0

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2gfhQ91rwZ8

Wow you've just opened my eyes... lol..Thanks so much and for also taking the time to post those links.