need a standards or oldy suggestions.

**mr sprocket** · #1 01-09-2008, 02:40 PM

I am putting together a trio to play standards and ballads for a valentines dinner. I am having trouble coming up with ideas.

Fly Me to the Moon
Sentimental Journey

We will have a guitar, bass, and vocals. The singer could be either male or female so suggestions for both would be great.

pointbass · #2 01-09-2008, 02:54 PM

Just do a Google search on Frank Sinatra, pretty much any tune he did would fit. Same thing with Tony Bennett or any of those guys from that period. They all covered a bunch of standards .... If you don't have the Real Book, just pick up Volume 1 and play .....

Blake Bass · #3 01-09-2008, 03:11 PM

+1 for the 1st Real Book. It has saved my tail on many standards gigs over the years.

Matthew Bryson · #4 01-09-2008, 03:13 PM

Ain't Misbehavin - at ballad tempo

**mr sprocket** · #5 01-09-2008, 05:10 PM

The real book is a good idea, just looking for ideas though.

j.a.e.r.i.p · #6 01-09-2008, 05:20 PM

If I Were A Bell
All the Things you are
Satin Doll
Take the "a" Train

etc.

riffraff · #7 01-09-2008, 05:29 PM

We've done a lot of similar gigs in the past. Got an 8 pc variety horn band, both male and female vocalists, and the dinner set is always a mellow start.

Route 66
Straighten Up and Fly Right
How High the Moon
Blue Bayou
Mack the Knife
A Foggy Day in London Town
Tenderly
Moondance
The Best Is Yet To Come
The Very Thought of You
The Look of Love
Bossas, baby, whatever you can find...

Sinatra and Buble recordings probably have a lot of good stuff for you to consider.

Dave R · #8 01-09-2008, 06:04 PM

"The Way You Look Tonight" is a great Sinatra tune with a nice progression. We play it with a walking bass line. I don't like Buble's version.

"Someone To Watch Over Me." Willie Nelson's version has an easier bass line.

"Zoot Suit Riot" and "Jump Jive and Wail" both can be played with Guitar/Bass/Drums. Good fast classics with walking bass lines.

A great classic country waltz love song is "When I Said I Do" by Clint Black.

**Howlin' Hanson** · #9 01-09-2008, 09:37 PM

Try:
"Spooky" and "Stormy" -- Classics IV
"Sunny"-- Bobby Hebb
"Just The Way You Are"--Billy Joel (lots of chord changes)

**mr sprocket** · #10 01-09-2008, 09:53 PM

Some good ideas here. I am wondering if I need to add a piano player or drummer. Except that is one more person to make sure they know the tunes.

I wonder if instrumentals would work as well as vocals?

shostkontrabass · #11 01-09-2008, 09:58 PM

Moondance by Van Morrison - moderate tempo jazz with walking bass, one of my favorites

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr sprocket

I am wondering if I need to add a piano player or drummer.

Probably a good idea. At least the drummer, even if they just use brushes on snare and hi-hat. It'll swing more.

+1 for If I Were a Bell. I played the original version of that by Frank Loesser when I played in the pit for Guys and Dolls a few years ago. Great tune!

MakiSupaStar · #12 01-09-2008, 10:36 PM

Take Five - Dave Brubeck

**mr sprocket** · #13 01-13-2008, 01:29 PM

Still trying to decide on the piano player or drummer. I have really good female singer so know we need to pick out songs she can cover.

TheDarkReaver · #14 01-13-2008, 04:32 PM

f##k her gently - tenacious d

Bassman822 · #15 01-13-2008, 04:44 PM

Look into rod stewarts american songbook cds for ideas. Also, dont forget about Tony Bennett

Aaron · #16 01-13-2008, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr sprocket

Still trying to decide on the piano player or drummer. I have really good female singer so know we need to pick out songs she can cover.

Have you asked what songs she does?

You should consider the audience and what you want to accomplish artistically.

Most folks I play with avoid those tunes that everyone and their uncle plays. Those tunes that all of the first year jazz students learn (all the things you are, autumn leaves, summertime, etc.) How many times do folks need to play All of Me, really?

At the same time, those are about the only jazz tunes everyday folk have heard. So do you want people to hear something new or do you want them to hear something more familiar?

gweimer · #17 01-13-2008, 05:42 PM

"Summertime" - Porgy & Bess soundtrack or Janis, take your pick. McCartney has also recorded it.
"Fever" - Peggy Lee

And, "Sunny" from Bobby Hebb is a really fun bass song. Some nice changes and phrases there.

**mr sprocket** · #18 01-13-2008, 08:47 PM

This is a one time performance for a valentine's dinner at church. We are more background entertainment than performance.

She has a pretty good range and is pretty versatile.

Funny you mentioned "All of Me" and "Autumn Leaves". Those were two songs the guitar thought. It a task to find a set list that is original and fun while still having songs that most people will recognize.

Aaron · #19 01-14-2008, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr sprocket

Funny you mentioned "All of Me" and "Autumn Leaves". Those were two songs the guitar thought. It a task to find a set list that is original and fun while still having songs that most people will recognize.

The audience doesn't have to know the tunes to dig the music.

One of the better jazz gigs I've had was playing a bunch of fairly obscure funky soul jazz (a lot of Grant Green, Wes Montgomery, etc.) in a guitar/drums/bass trio. It was a last minute deal with no promotion at a venue where there had never been music before - although it did coincide with an art walk. By the second set, the audience was at least 100 strong - most of whom were really into the music.

Other than lounge groups, I haven't seen too many musicians pack set lists with those played to death standards. Ultimately, people will like your music for being fresh and unique - not for playing tunes they recognize. It can be cool to throw into a quirky rendition of one of those standards (i.e. so what over the groove of take five, etc.). That allows you to be original while giving the audience something familiar.