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Thread: Jazzy tunes with good melodies

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    Default 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!

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    Pittsburgh Bill
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    Default 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.
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  3. #3

    Default 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

  4. #4

    Default 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..

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    Default 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

  6. #6

    Default 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..


    Last edited by catmandu2; Mar-30-2021 at 1:16pm.

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    Registered User Bruce Clausen's Avatar
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    Default Re: Jazzy tunes with good melodies

    Quote Originally Posted by sixwatergrog View Post
    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!

    From Brazil, Tico Tico and Chega de Saudade are essentials. Oh, and the tune Brazil.

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    Default Re: Jazzy tunes with good melodies

    or...



    or


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    Default 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.

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    Default Re: Jazzy tunes with good melodies

    Begin the Beguine, perhaps?

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    Default Re: Jazzy tunes with good melodies

    Forgot about Silver's "Que Pasa?"

    Sun Ra's "Island in the Sun" and "Bassism"

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    Default 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

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    Registered User Dave Hicks's Avatar
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    Default Re: Jazzy tunes with good melodies


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    harvester of clams Bill McCall's Avatar
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    Default Re: Jazzy tunes with good melodies

    Many swing standards can be played as a bossa, just try your favorites.
    Not all the clams are at the beach

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    Default Re: Jazzy tunes with good melodies

    Quote Originally Posted by sixwatergrog View Post
    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.

  17. #16

    Default Re: Jazzy tunes with good melodies

    I'm in the mood for love....lyrics are fine too.

  18. #17
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
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    Default 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.
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  19. #18
    Registered User DavidKOS's Avatar
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    Default Re: Jazzy tunes with good melodies

    Frenesi
    Amapola
    Green Eyes
    Siboney
    Moliendo Cafe
    Como Fue
    La Comparsa
    El Choclo
    Lagrimas Negras
    Sabor a Mi

  20. #19
    Registered User lowtone2's Avatar
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    Default Re: Jazzy tunes with good melodies

    I love Afro Blue. And Wave.

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  22. #20
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    Default 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.
    Ratliff R5 2007, Capek A5 2003, Washburn M5S-SB Jethro Burns 1982, Mid-Mo M-2, Epiphone MM 30 Bk mandolins, Harmony Batwing 1970's, George Bauer bowlback early 1900's Philadelphia.


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    Default 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.
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    Registered User Bunnyf's Avatar
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    Default Re: Jazzy tunes with good melodies

    Perhaps this?

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    Default 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

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  28. #24
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    Default 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
    writing about music
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  29. #25
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    Default Re: Jazzy tunes with good melodies

    Bistro Fada

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWLJXnmzIDo

    Difficult (for me) but a great tune.

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