In some sense I'd say that the song is a good choice to show how one can reharmonize and jazz things up. I think it's a good way to make Jazz more accessible to those who are not familiar with Jazz. We can see that Jack wasn't really “performing” but casually playing and accompanying himself on the well-known tune, which by the way is the official anthem of the state of Kansas. When president Roosevelt requested “Home On the Range,” Jack said, “I deliberately played my guitar accompaniment with a cowboy twang...and sang it like I was still on my horse. When I finished his song...he seemed emotionally touched. With a big smile he said, "Thank you, thank you, Mr. Skiles." I bet he didn’t play more than four chords then. Here’s a rendition of another old tune written in 1852 My Old Kentucky Home by Lois Armstrong.


New Orleans style Jazz version