Followup to my post above:
I hope you guys aren't misconstruing what I was saying about Dreamer's changed melodic notes on 'Just the Way You Are'. It was actually my favorite rendition, particularly because of that changed note. I too NEVER play a song the SAME way twice and will often change the chords, melodic line, and even the lyrics (heehee), but the point I was making (at least from a pro live performer's point of view) is that most audiences generally tend to expect to hear the melodic hook line of a cover tune to sound pretty much the way they remember it. On the other hand, when performing for a more musically soshisticated crowd (jazz venue), I can feel more free to embelish/change the melody more. I've grown to realize (over the years) that I've had to make a few compromises in my playing style in order to satisfy my audience desires. Of course, I DON'T mean selling out musically, it's more like a balancing act between unabashed artistic expression and making a living musicially. - Scott