Jazzy tunes with good melodies
I'm looking for suggestions of tunes that are maybe associated with jazz that make for good, fun to play melodies. Examples would be St. Thomas, My Little Suede Shoes, Sly Mongoose, Manha de Carnaval, Besame Mucho, South of the Border, and so on. Along those lines. I'm leaning toward tunes with a Caribbean, Latin or Bossa feel but I'm open to all suggestions.
thanks!
Re: Jazzy tunes with good melodies
I can be of no help with the Latin Jazzy influence as I mostly play classic country honkey-tonk after migrating from rockabilly. I have just begun to dabble in Gypsy Jazz and have thus far just learned two tunes which are fun and relatively easy for me to play.
The Sheik of Araby
Honey Suckle Rose
Re: Jazzy tunes with good melodies
Martin Taylor / David Grisman, Acoustic Jazz Quartet – "I'm Beginning To See The Light"
You might get some ideas from this album, standards, it's real nice, nothing burning fast, easy melodies, etc
Re: Jazzy tunes with good melodies
"Spain." Maybe work up some of Metheny's pieces like "Minuano 6/8." Perhaps take up listening to choro and I'm sure you'll hit on many others. Of course there's the rest of the Jobim songbook..
Re: Jazzy tunes with good melodies
Jobim's Wave, Corcovado have beautiful melody's even Girl From Ipanema with it's nice chromatic minor walkup in bridge
Re: Jazzy tunes with good melodies
"Cape Verdean Blues," "Song For My Father"
My favorite, Andrew Hill, uses a lot of that type of syncopation (like St Thomas) across his catalog..
https://youtu.be/VFUITTDFfRE
Re: Jazzy tunes with good melodies
Quote:
Originally Posted by
sixwatergrog
I'm looking for suggestions of tunes that are maybe associated with jazz that make for good, fun to play melodies. Examples would be St. Thomas, My Little Suede Shoes, Sly Mongoose, Manha de Carnaval, Besame Mucho, South of the Border, and so on.
How old are you, sixwatergrog? I don't know Sly Mongoose, but all the others here are tunes we were playing on dance gigs as high school kids in the early sixties! :cool:
From Brazil, Tico Tico and Chega de Saudade are essentials. Oh, and the tune Brazil.
Re: Jazzy tunes with good melodies
Re: Jazzy tunes with good melodies
The Jethro Burns "Swing Low Sweet Mandolin" on Acoustic Disc has 16 good tracks. Just Jethro and Don Stiernberg.
Re: Jazzy tunes with good melodies
Begin the Beguine, perhaps?
Re: Jazzy tunes with good melodies
Forgot about Silver's "Que Pasa?"
Sun Ra's "Island in the Sun" and "Bassism"
Re: Jazzy tunes with good melodies
I forgot to subscribe, and just checked back and saw all of the responses already. Lots to check out. Thanks.
My main source for Slide Mongoose comes from the Blaze Mento Band - https://youtu.be/KybRmr0erzY
But Ernest Ranglin jazzed it up - https://youtu.be/h2_XmVYMK5E
Re: Jazzy tunes with good melodies
Re: Jazzy tunes with good melodies
Many swing standards can be played as a bossa, just try your favorites.
Re: Jazzy tunes with good melodies
Quote:
Originally Posted by
sixwatergrog
I'm looking for suggestions of tunes that are maybe associated with jazz that make for good, fun to play melodies. Examples would be St. Thomas, My Little Suede Shoes, Sly Mongoose, Manha de Carnaval, Besame Mucho, South of the Border, and so on. Along those lines. I'm leaning toward tunes with a Caribbean, Latin or Bossa feel but I'm open to all suggestions.
thanks!
Dean Martin song Sway.
Re: Jazzy tunes with good melodies
I'm in the mood for love....lyrics are fine too.
Re: Jazzy tunes with good melodies
Hmm...
Sunny Side of the Street
Sweet Georgia Brown
Girl From Ipanema
Ghost Riders In the Sky
All chestnuts, but with catchy melodies and opportunities for interesting variations around the chords.
From the old-time fiddle repertoire, I've had some fun with Alabama Jubilee and Colored (or Southern) Aristocracy.
Re: Jazzy tunes with good melodies
Frenesi
Amapola
Green Eyes
Siboney
Moliendo Cafe
Como Fue
La Comparsa
El Choclo
Lagrimas Negras
Sabor a Mi
Re: Jazzy tunes with good melodies
I love Afro Blue. And Wave.
Re: Jazzy tunes with good melodies
Second the Jethro Burns CD. I literally just received it yesterday afternoon and listened to it last night. Jethro was a master playing this style and this CD showcases his virtuosity. And Don Stiernberg plays some great guitar to perfectly compliment the recording.
Re: Jazzy tunes with good melodies
I've been playing Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans a lot lately, really fun melody / chord mix.
Re: Jazzy tunes with good melodies
Re: Jazzy tunes with good melodies
Brubecks Take Five sounds good on mandolin, think it's originally in Ebm but can easily moved down to Dm if that's more comfortable and I've enjoyed working on The Shadow Of Your Smile in Em it's a great tune for guitar also, Listening to Sarah Vaughn doing it is sublime
Re: Jazzy tunes with good melodies
Brubeck's '3 to Get Ready' , also on the Take 5 recording , is fun.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BU7uaiMaLds
Re: Jazzy tunes with good melodies
Bistro Fada
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWLJXnmzIDo
Difficult (for me) but a great tune.