Beatles Jazz

TroyK · #1 03-10-2009, 11:38 AM

Those of you following along at home know that I have a degree of distaste for covering Beatles songs as jazz tunes. I'm having a nice time in my basement today with iTunes on shuffle, when "Can't Buy Me Love" from Stanley Turrentine's "Mr. Natural" comes up.

Grrrrrr....

It's an otherwise really nice album. All of the songs he could have put there, though...wasted wax in my book.

Marc Piane · #2 03-10-2009, 12:03 PM

I mostly agree but I do think Mehldau's version of Blackbird is really nice. Sara Gazarek does a nice one too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtLDz4Sa65I

joel kelsey · #3 03-10-2009, 10:38 PM

Herbie has a cool version of norwegian wood. Other than that, I agree....

**Francois Blais** · #4 03-11-2009, 05:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joel kelsey

Herbie has a cool version of norwegian wood. Other than that, I agree....

Patricia Barber did a nice version of that tune too.

Paul Warburton · #5 03-11-2009, 09:01 AM

Hey Troy, I have to say that, unlike yourself, I really like most of the Beatles songbook. I find most of it rather refreshing even today. Of course, I am a product of that era. I actually think Paul is brilliant in certain areas. Bottom line, of course, is it's a matter of personal taste.
Off topic, I know, but what kind of disturbs me is that word "cover". I know it's become a word popular in use now days. I'm OK with Franswa's use of "version". But "cover", somehow just grates on me.
I live in fear of someone saying: "I'm gonna do a cover of Bill Evans' 'Turn Out The Stars' ". That might just put the old guy over the edge.
Anyway back on topic, and for what it's worth, I dig the Beatles....always have, always will.

Eric Hochberg · #6 03-11-2009, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

Hey Troy, I have to say that, unlike yourself, I really like most of the Beatles songbook. I find most of it rather refreshing even today. Of course, I am a product of that era. I actually think Paul is brilliant in certain areas. Bottom line, of course, is it's a matter of personal taste.
Off topic, I know, but what kind of disturbs me is that word "cover". I know it's become a word popular in use now days. I'm OK with Franswa's use of "version". But "cover", somehow just grates on me.
I live in fear of someone saying: "I'm gonna do a cover of Bill Evans' 'Turn Out The Stars' ". That might just put the old guy over the edge.
Anyway back on topic, and for what it's worth, I dig the Beatles....always have, always will.

I'm with you on all of this, Paul. Maybe it is generational as I too grew up with them and was inspired to play music, in part, because of them and their amazing music. I also think the word "cover" is not appropriate when a group is doing someone else's song in an original way, getting creative with it, which most likely would be the case with a jazz group playing their version of a pop song. Really no different than all of the versions of Tin Pan Alley/Great American Songbook standards out there. Of course, I'm not saying I would like every version of any Beatles tune jazzed up, I just think it's fertile ground to till.

A "cover band" brings up images of a combo in a Holiday Inn trying to play songs "just like the record" and most jazz groups are not going for that.

Gonzalo Rubalcaba has a nice "Imagine" with Pattitucci and DeJohnette.

TroyK · #7 03-11-2009, 09:55 AM

Don't get me wrong. I love the Beatles. I had an entire wall covered in their posters as a kid and I still have, I don't know how many, Beatles albums and still spin them up some times. And I lot of jazz musicians who I really like have done Beatles "covers"

For example, Dave Kikoski is one of my absolutely favorite this era jazz pianists and he's taken that whole Beatles as jazz thing to the Nth degree.

Like I said in another thread. I love ice cream and I love scotch, but I don't usually put them together. Or something like that, I'm sure that I'm misquoting myself.

As for the term "covers". I think it's inapplicable to jazz, but it is a term used in a pop and rock context, so I'm going to keep going with it on the topic of Beatles Jazz projects. As a way of needling those who choose to defy me! As a matter of fact, I don't think anyone should be allowed to play anything without clearing it with me first. Can we all at least agree on that? Seems like a reasonable request on my part.

Sara Gazarek is a local gal and I think she's great. I let her slide a little on that Blackbird medley because if I squint right, I can consider it an elaborate quote. But Sara, don't push it, you don't want to end up on my list.

Paul Warburton · #8 03-11-2009, 10:19 AM

You just earned my respect, man.

zeytoun · #9 03-11-2009, 10:34 AM

There is something worse: A capella Beatles "jazz" choirs.

On topic, I'm kind of on the fence about the subject. I would loathe to hear jazzified versions of their earlier material, but some of their less popular tracks off of later albums could be very interesting (like the track, "Because", off Abbey Road??). I heard a jazz trio (guitar, bass, drum) tackle "Come Together" with very good results once.

damonsmith · #10 03-11-2009, 11:02 AM

I recently had a mild melt down at my part-time job when "Hey Jude" came on. I am theorizing that all that noise I make might be a response to being assaulted by the Beatles since birth.
I can understand intellectually the possible interesting points in the music, but it has just been nullified by intense overexposure.
My current theory is as follows - there are three possible reactions to their music:
A. You were around when they first hit, and understand the impact.
B. You have been beaten into submission
C. you can't stand them (me!)

McCartney's power abuses in the "classical" realm don't help. Turetzky's version of "Yesterdays" is nice, and I can see why people cover their music.

Paul Warburton · #11 03-11-2009, 11:37 AM

I can dig what you're saying Damon.
I was pretty much in agreement with your opinions when they first hit.
Then, for me, things started to change in terms of their musical output. When SGT. PEPPER was released and through my drug induced veil, I noticed a change. Strings, horns, nice harmonic voicings in the arrangements, nice structure of form and REALLY, to me, lyrics having to deal with more than the obvious love and loss drill (which I actually love anyway).
I still listen to that **** today.
My point, I guess, is the use of all those new instruments, at least in rock and roll at that time, was ground breaking...not to mention the arrangements and attention to musical quality impacted me and, I feel, opened up the eyes AND ears to the masses. All that extra stuff cost them some extra bread that they really could have saved in terms of record sales. This gave them my respect. (and my ears).

As far as being "beaten into submission", I have never experienced that in a musical setting. I do have a tall beautiful, dark haired lady that sometimes visits me late in the night with a suitcase filled with goodies.

Mark Perna · #12 03-11-2009, 11:42 AM

I started playing guitar (which naturally led to bass) as a kid because of the Beatles. McCartney's late '60's bass parts are classic examples of melodic bass playing in a rock setting. I had all of the American issue vinyl albums (I have an original numbered issue of the White Album) and all of the original American issue singles in addition to dozens of bootlegs. I've replaced all of the vinyl with CDs and am anxiously awaiting the time they release remastered versions as the CD releases were '80's masters and sound like it. So, yeah, big Beatles fan.

Generally, I can't stand any covers of the Beatles much less jazz interpretations. Their versions are so iconic that anything, including new versions by the various individual Beatles themselves, pale. Jazz versions usually suck in an even bigger way. Notable exceptions: I saw Hiram Bullock, Jaco Pastorius and Kenwood Denard play Dear Prudence and it blew my head off. Jaco's version of Blackbird is also terrific.

Dave Kikoski has 3 Beatles related CDs out most of which are pretty lame. However, they did a version of Blue Jay Way that is pretty interesting (and probably more interesting than the throw away original) and they did Let It Be as a reggae which worked.

Brian Bromberg's bass solo version of Come Together is original and interesting.

I haven't heard Mehldau's Blackbird but as someone else pointed out Herbie's version of Norwegian Wood is cool.

For every one of the above covers that work though there are probably a hundred that suck so bad they are a crime against music.

mark

TroyK · #13 03-11-2009, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zeytoun

There is something worse: A capella Beatles "jazz" choirs.

Good God! Is there really suck a thing? (I realize that I mis-spelled "such", but decided to leave it for effect)

In the interest of full disclosure, I love early rock and roll. Buddy Holly, Little Richard, Del Shannon, Dick Dale and the Del Tones, The Who. I love doo wop. I actually like reggae in doses and I appreciate that there are some really talented hip-hop artists. Slam Poetry is something I love as a spectator, but don't have any ideas about doing myself. When I moved to Seattle at the turn of the century, I discovered that there were still great independent rock bands and indulge myself now and again. My tastes are broad, I'm just a jazz guy. And I'm kind of a stubborn purist at that.

zeytoun · #14 03-11-2009, 12:25 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISL-uirfjWg

(Don't get me wrong, I love doo wop too. And I'm not hating on their skills. But it's just so wrong.)

TroyK · #15 03-11-2009, 01:15 PM

Blech.....

Now this is honest. Dated, but honest and musically important in context in my book:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CdEu...eature=related

and this (all 11 seconds of it)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjYYyCnOP_M

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #16 03-11-2009, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zeytoun

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISL-uirfjWg

(Don't get me wrong, I love doo wop too. And I'm not hating on their skills. But it's just so wrong.)

Man, that's like taking a slice of white bread and then soaking it in bleach because the crust is still kind of tan. Please don't post anything like that again!