Top 5 favorite jazz tunes to improvise over?

**MarkRhodes** · 02-16-2011, 07:33 PM

Originally Posted by 4thstuning

So why these tunes are popular with the fretboard crowd makes an interesting question.

I think Stella, ATTYA, and Autumn Leaves are loved by lots of non-guitarists. It wasn't guitarists who *made* them standards! My only surprise (so far, and only a few precincts have reported, so it's still early in the voting) is that there's not more Ellington. (So far, Satin Doll is it.) I suppose more of his tunes will be played tonight by jazz bands than any other single composer's.

**MarkRhodes** · 02-16-2011, 07:35 PM

The other surprise to me is that there aren't more tunes based on the rhythm changes.

**Tomtom94** · 02-16-2011, 10:24 PM

Well, I'm kind of a beginner jazz improviser and I've played blues before so my favourites are the ones with blues changes, Mr PC for example.

Mr Pc
Autumn Leaves
Satin doll
Jordu

**musicjohnny** · 02-17-2011, 11:07 AM

My top five tunes to improv over

1. Spain
2. Mr. P.C.
3. Blue Bossa
4. How High The Moon
5. Stella

**cosmic gumbo** · 02-17-2011, 12:09 PM

Footprints
Invitation
Epistrophy
Impressions
Four

**Hypno** · 02-17-2011, 12:37 PM

Peel Me A Grape
'Round Midnight
Afternoon In Paris
When Sunny Gets Blue
Satin Doll

**Orbits** · 02-23-2011, 02:03 AM

footprints
impressions
evidence
lets cool one
scrapple from the apple

**Jazzpunk** · 02-23-2011, 05:18 PM

Don't forget to list what you enjoy about each song!

**Aristotle** · 02-23-2011, 09:33 PM

I don't have a few favorites, but I have a least favorite.

I see a lot of guys listing Satin Doll. I find that difficult. It takes so much conentration and effort not to keep getting caught up in repeating the same idea and sounding square. First, with the Dm and Em. Then, again with Am and Abm. I know I need to start a phrase in one key center and end up in the other, but progression is like a trap.

**Artcore251** · 02-24-2011, 04:22 AM

I suppose my top 5 right now are:

1. Nica's Dream - I love playing over those melodic minor chords and that latin to swing feel,,
2. God Bless the Child - I love ballads like this. I've been listening to Jim hall play this on Sonny Rollins' The Bridge for the past couple weeks. I just love the changes and the simple melody, there's so much room to play,
3. Any blues are fun to play on, I'd say...I've been doing a lot with Coltrane's "Equinox" and some other minor blues, too,
4. Round Midnight, or just about any Monk tune for that matter..
5. So What - I just have to include this if I'm gonna make a top 5. It's always fun for me.

**whippersnapper** · 04-07-2011, 06:59 PM

yesterdays - great song harmonically, love the bluesy/dark feel, works great at any tempo, nice short form, etc

stompin' at the savoy - love playing straight ahead swing over this, not too many chords, just a great guitar tune imo.

ladybird - a new favorite by todd dameron, such an underrated composer!

lover man - love playing this as a bossa nova also love the bluesy melody

most of the great jazz ballads - a chance to show true expression

**amhabz** · 04-08-2011, 07:27 PM

Misty-1st song I ever did my own improvisions to
Nightingale sang in Barkly's square-so moody
Dark eyes-changing the 3/4 time to 4/4 time
Scarbourgh Fair-changed to 5/4 time, simple lines
Lady is a Tramp-because always liked this song
Of course played on accordion because my guitar playing stinks

**Mario Abbagliati** · 04-13-2011, 08:28 AM

Too many! Right now I'm having fun with

Stablemates
Along Came Betty
Celia
Django
Reflections

**JohnW400** · 04-13-2011, 09:00 AM

Mario's right, way too many. It might be easier to list the least favorite tunes.

top 5

You don't know What Love is
Ceora
Central Park West
A Child is Born
In Your Own Sweet Way

**Gerard45** · 07-05-2011, 05:07 AM

Top 5

Blue Bossa
Meditation
Tune up
All the things you are
My one and only love

TH · 07-05-2011, 07:10 AM

Gee, it's always changing within a big pool of tunes. Top of the list this summer is
A Nightengale Sang In Barkley Square -absolutely gorgeous melodic harmonic ballad of the WWII era, and a nice bridge. The rarely played opening Verse is also worth finding.

Round Midnite- the way this piece breathes! Its phrases are like inhale... exhale, inhale... exhale, inhale... exhale and reflect. Fill of mystery and I play it vastly different every time.

Here There and Everywhere- simplicity and essential beauty, and a bridge that goes to a minor pivot kinda like Night and Day does. Clever boys, good ears.

Witchita Lineman- Jimmy Webb tune that has a harmonic structure that rides like a tall wave, full of its own energy that takes you along. Ben Monder turned me on to Jimmy Webb tunes- Galveston, Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Webb is a master of modern songwriting.

Send In The Clowns- Sondheim at his best. A song that is a study in nuance and space. I watched the masterclass video of Sondheim on this song and it challenges the way I phrase.

Detour Ahead- Bill Evans meets Herb Ellis. This tune I can rework and harmonize so many ways and it's so gorgeous that it always comes up sounding like I meant it.

Whoops! getting carried away here, and I just noticed these are somewhat contemporary tunes in the classic mold.
Nice tunes and good thread guys!
David

**Soco** · 07-05-2011, 09:29 AM

1.It could happen to you
2.Love for sale
3.Time remembered
4.Central park west
5.Alice in wonderland

**PerA** · 07-05-2011, 12:48 PM

Solar
Stella by Starlight
Blues for Alice
All the Things You Are
Blues forms (Mr.PC, Freddie Freeloader, etc).

**JakeAcci** · 07-05-2011, 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by JohnW400

Mario's right, way too many. It might be easier to list the least favorite tunes.

top 5

You don't know What Love is
Ceora
Central Park West
A Child is Born
In Your Own Sweet Way

John, what's wrong with "sweet way?" I've only learned the tune recently, but I think it's swell! Check out Jimmy Mosher, Mick Goodrick, John Lockwood among others playing it here: http://valdez.dumarsengraving.com/Jimmy/SweetWay.mp3 (from Casa Valdez Studios: Jimmy Mosher- A True Voice )

Mick's solo is great.