Current/well known pop songs that would work well solo jazz guitar style?

[SammieWammie]

Ones with enough complexity and potential it jazzy, yet still be known to all the non-jazz-educated people of the world, while being playable on a guitar. Any ideas people? I know the basics of re-harmonization and arranging for solo guitar, I just can't seem to do it with pop songs. Actually I what I sometimes do when with singers is play the chords but just extend them and mess around with inversions and a bit of walking bass, also doing little jazzy fills or turnarounds in gaps, all that stuff, but it doesn't sound right, it doesn't sound like a jazz arrangement of the song. Any help from all you jazz people is appreciated

Also on a semi-related note, any ideas to reharmonize a 1-5-6-4 pop progression? Hundreds (no exaggeration) of pop songs with that progression. If you're not familiar with it listen to I'm Yours by Jason Mraz, perfect example but there really are hundreds. In C the progression would go C-G-Am-F, simple stuff but I can't think of much to do to make it jazzier, except what I said above. Cheers.

[pingu]

I've noticed that you can't reharm many currentish pop songs
as much as the old standards ........

I still attept some modern pop CM though not reharming much
(mind you I don't reharm much anyway on CM stuff)

some ideas ..............
To make you feel my love
True colours
I can't make you love me
Don't know why I didn't come
And I love her
While my guitar gently weeps
how deep is your love
isn't she lovely
having a go at wichitar lineman atmo

fun

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

Can't resist, since you mentioned it. I love the space Cassandra gives to Wichita Lineman.

YouTube Video

[patskywriter]

"not your birthday" by allstar weekend would sound great as a solo jazz guitar piece. (i don't know how 'known' they are, but they're promoted pretty nicely on the disney channel. they're popular with the young crowd.)

another one that would be nice is "love you like a love song" by selena gomez, another disney artist. the song's a good one, though, and the bassline gives the song a "pavane"-like sound (gabriel fauré).

i can imagine a smooth-jazz guitarist tackling "feel good" by eric benét and faith evans.

do not, under any circumstances, attempt to arrange a jazz version of willow smith's "whip my hair," LOL!

even though i perform more as a DJ these days, i must say that kids react to 'covers' with surprise/bafflement and then delight. they're largely unfamiliar with the concept of cover tunes and get a huge kick when they hear tunes they know with a different presentation (or when they hear original songs that rap artists 'borrow' from).

[mr. beaumont]

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles

Can't resist, since you mentioned it. I love the space Cassandra gives to Wichita Lineman.

Cassandra's so cool, ain't she?

[TruthHertz]

YouTube Video

Jimmy Webb wrote so many great tunes worth checking out:
The Moon is A Harsh Mistress
Galeveston

Have fun
David

[patskywriter]

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

Cassandra's so cool, ain't she?

when i'm DJing i enjoy playing "last train to clarksville" by the monkees, followed by cassandra wilson's version.

[cosmic gumbo]

YouTube Video

[mike_k]

I really dig this tune, but his "Walk Don't Run" cover is also super cool. I don't think that there is a version on Youtube, but check out his first album, Sometime Tuesday Morning.

[mr. beaumont]

Of course, "Walk Don't Run" was originally a jazz tune!

I like when Brad Mehldau does radiohead tunes. Funny, strip those songs of the whiny vocals and "just bought a modular synth isn't it cool I'm gonna use it on every song" squiggles and there's some pretty good material there.

[markf]

I would like to hear someone do "colours of the wind" by Vanessa Williams.

‪Vanessa Williams - Colors Of The Wind‬‏ - YouTube

[pingu]

Interesting to cp the 'detuning with long reverb'
technique of Ben and Jonny A there
I like the pushing the neck thing better myself
I like the BM version better generally but
Jonny A gets the morse code hook with the Bb and C chords
underneith really well tho

nice versions both

[Larry Feldman]

I heard an organ trio version of Like A Star.

[pierre richard]

the rascals "groovin"..played in the groove like Bensons "breezin"

with a little help from my friends....mod 6/8...jazz waltz

things we said today...played like wes montgomery california dreamin..

midnight cowboy...fast bop style..

some tunes I play...

remember the way you play the notes make it jazz...articulation...etc..

time on the instrument...pierre

[Sammo]

Good thread!!

I think Norah Jones' Don't Know Why is becoming "new standard" -- it's on George Benson's upcoming album and on Metheny's One Quiet Night.

I think Maxine by Donald Fagen is great vehichle for solo guitar (though B section is tricky for me).

Still Crazy After All These Years by Paul Simon is fun to play w/gospel feel.

I think these three are all kind of "AABA":ish which is nice.

There is pretty jazzy C-section in New York Minute by Don Henley and it works pretty nice too as chord melody. And there are many Burt Bacharach tunes that would probably work (Alfie for instance).