Jazz musicians, can you help a guy out?

[Joe Nerve]

No idea what section to put this post in....

Iffin let's say I was invited to go jam with a jazz drummer friend (which I was) and another guy or 2, what would be 10 jazz standards that it would be safe to say they would absolutely know?

Also, without getting too technical and scaring a jazz newbie who can barely read music and knows even less about theory away - what would be some good pointers, websites, whatever - to get me started if I one day wanted to jump on stage in this new jazz club that opened up in my hood. I'd like to give a shot at doing the open jam thing without making a complete ass of myself.

Help - songs most importantly please as I can get going learning some tonight. Thanks.

[pnchad]

Are we talking dixieland, swing, straight ahead, bebop, avante gard, fusion or God forbid smooth?

Anything by Monk, Diz, Miles, Wayne Shorter or Bird are usually good. Also, Ellington etc. if they are older guys.

Improvising on chord changes is the most important tool next to time. Get a Real Book.

good luck

[superbassman2000]

chamleon by herbie hancock is a pretty famous one...
that song is like the sweet home alabama of jazz

[Joe Nerve]

Thanks so much. If you could throw more songs at me that would be great. Just want to start listening to as much as I can, picking up whatever I can. I'm going to also dive into the books I've collected over the years.

[CamMcIntyre]

If you're wanting a CD list here's a few.....

Miles Davis-Kind of Blue
John Coltrane-A Love Surpreme
Herbie Hancock-Head Hunters
Wayne Shorter-High Life
Ray Brown All Stars-Don't Forget the Blues

The recently released Thelonious Monk & John Coltrane CD is killer. I have no clue what the title is.

that list is just a random sample [ok-the first 3, everyone should own], but it gives you some great things to listen to.


Congrats on wanting to make the jump into the jazz realm. It's a whole different world.

edit-if you don't have the book "building walking basslines" by Ed Friedland-buy it.

[Passinwind]

All Blues
Wave
Blue Bossa
Blue Monk
Night Train
Georgia On My Mind
Four
Black Orpheus (goes by several other titles as well)
Freddie Freeloader
My Favorite Things


Those are just a random selection of things that get called sooner than later in my world. It's not really safe to say everybody would know all of 'em, but most of the jazz players I know would know most of them.

It's all about finding some tunes that you feel, I think. Best of luck!

[The Eristic]

I've got Real Book 5th Edition as a PDF if you want it.

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

A key tune that hasn't been mentioned yet is "All The Things You Are". That's one of the sweetest jazz standards to me. I remember that I played a version of this with a quartet (arranged by ourselves) in which the tune started with the whole melody presented by the fretless bass alone. It was very cool. I have a great version of this played by Jim Hall on guitar and Ron Carter on double bass. No drums in this live recording, which I like a lot. I can send you the mp3 to your e-mail if you like, Joe. Just let me know.

[Phil Smith]

If you go to this site:

http://www.realbook.us

You will see the top 40 Jazz tunes that people the world over are looking for charts for. Number 1 on that list is "Autumn Leaves".

[DaveAceofBass]

All the Things you Are
Stella By Starlight
Softly as in a Morning Sunrise
Blue Monk, or Straight No Chaser, or Billie's Bounce (or any jazz blues--if you don't know the melody, you should know the changes. Preferably in all 12 keys, but at least in F and Bb)
Oleo (Rhythm changes--know this at least in Bb, preferably all 12 keys)
Girl from Ipanema
Body and Soul
Wave or Triste
Work Song
So What or Impressions (same modal changes, different melodies and tempos)
All Blues
Mr. PC (or any minor blues, preferably in all 12 keys)

[cb56]

Make sure you can play the changes to "I've Got Rythm" uptempo and you'll probably have half the tunes covered.
Oh yeah and don't forget "Cherokee"... in 12 keys.

[Joe Nerve]

I love talkbass.

If anyone wants to send me anything you can send it to nervemail@aol.com . I appreciate all the input.

[Jumping_Bomb_Angel]

Dont forget 'take 5' by The Dave brubeck Quartet. Just use a gat solo in place of the trumpet solo. You can jam for hours on that.

[BassManJim]

Originally Posted by Jumping_Bomb_Angel

Dont forget 'take 5' by The Dave brubeck Quartet. Just use a gat solo in place of the trumpet solo. You can jam for hours on that.

uhhhhhhhhh .... you mean Paul Desmond's alto sax solo right?

Anyway......... Jazz Times magazine recently printed a list of "Suggested jam session tunes for the novice jazz musician"

Standards
There Will Never Be Another You
What Is This Thing Called Love
Stella By Starlight
Just Friends
I Remember April
Autumn Leaves
All The Things You Are
There Is No Greater Love

Be-Bop
Oleo
Donna Lee
Confirmation
Anthropology
Bebop

Ballads
My One And Only Love
Body and Soul
In a Sentimental Mood
I Can't Get Started
Misty

Latin
On Green Dolphin Street
Corcovado
Recorda Me
Blue Bossa
Wave
Triste

Blues and Groove
Birdlike
Billie's Bounce / Now's The Time
Blues for Alice
Straight, No Chaser
Jody Grind
Watermelon Man
Sugar

Advanced
Fe Fi Fo Fum
Giant Steps
Naima
Lazy Bird
Inner Urge
Moments Notice.

From my experience this sounds like a pretty reasonable list, and, you can get the charts with play-alongs for most of the tunes from Aebersold.


peace......... Jim

edit; D'oh and of couse "I Got Rhythm" (preferably in all 12 keys )