I was at the West Michigan Symphony last Friday night and they featured a singer named Steve Lippa. He sang a bunch of Sinatra tunes and mixed in some other standards by other artists. One of the numbers he did was Billy Joel's "Just The Way You Are". The funny thing was he did it as a swing tune. I know Scott Yee has experimented with doing covers in alternate styles. How about the rest of you, what songs and what styles? The only one I do different ways is "Tea For Two" done either as a swing or Cha Cha.

Thanks,

Tom

I do Moon River, which is written in 3/4, in 4/4...Jazz ballad at 70 bpm.

I also do the opposite and play As Time Goes By with a waltz, a jazz waltz to be more accurate.

These ideas were actually given to me by Oscar Peterson when I had the honor of doing an arranger (yes, an arranger) clinic with him a number of years ago. It was on the PSR-9000 Pro.

He said if you get tired of playing a jazz ballad, try playing it as a waltz. And, a waltz can be played as a Jazz Ballad.

It works because a jazz ballad is in 6/8 time...a waltz in 3/4...you do the math.

Ian

PS...Some waltzes work well with a Slow Rock style...again, a 6/8.

I forgot that our band does "Shanty Town" and "Maria Elena" both as big band swings even though both were orginally waltzes.

Also, a lot of Latin type beats, like Bossa Nova and Rumba, work really well with a Swing rhythm.

Changing from waltz to swing and vice versa, sure sharpens up your phrasing skills, Tom.

Ian

I select a song and the take through the keyboard styles. I find pleasure in changing the feel of a song according to a style.
You discover some great ideas on an oldder song.

John C.

I do that all night long it's all in YOUR "Rhythm" and "Timing"... that's the fun of an arranger KB ...there are no rules ....do whatever song you want, any way you want, as long as it Sounds Good. Have fun!

btw, I do Just the way you Are in a Rumba !

Donny,

I do "Just The Way You Are" as a rumba also. I just may have to try it as a swing. I also do "Route 66" as a boogie at about 140.

Tom

That's the beauty of these instruments, John...we can be "arrangers" (the people kind ) and do a piece of music our own way. Some nights I may play the same song in three or four different styles.

And they are great for song writing ideas and doing quick demos.

Ian

hahahah Tom...that's what I'm talkin' about, be creative, go against the grain musically and have fun..

take care

D.

One of the mental exercises I've done for years is to take a song, any song, and play it using nearly every style in the keyboard. Sometimes you come up with some really neat sounding tunes merely by changing the style, and also changing the chord progression with some interlopers. It's a lot of fun and it can really make for an interesting performance. One of the best example of this was when I was visiting DNJ one evening in Brick, NJ. He did Happy Birthday as a disco, then switched to Volare using the same style and variation--the crowd loved it!

Gary

Hi Gary.....yes I remember that evening when you & your lovely wife came to the Dance Club....your exactly right. At the drop of a hat you have to play any song in any style and mix and match like I did on stage when you were there. Also your continuous changing style on one song exercise is spot on and will definitely teach you how to mix it up.... have fun!

Both of these versions are CLASSIC HITS!

6/8 feel:


reggae beat:

Two of my favorite ways/styles of playing this song...

Gary,

I heard Donny do his disco medley that included "Volare" years ago when I first met him. You mean he's still doing that old stuff? Time to upgrade Donny, include some rap and hip hop in your act. You try it out and let me know how it worked then maybe I'll do it too. Nah

Tom

Rap/Hiphop?.....whats that? Like Sinatra said
"I Did It My Way"

I Loved Izzie's Island style but he used all the wrong words - made me nuts! He didn't rhyme or even put the matching thoughts together in 1/2 the verses. Grrrrr.... It was SO cool and pretty though. Matt Morrison (Glee/Broadway) does a nice job with the right words. LOVE the tune. Always have.

Dave,

I never have to worry about the right words, as I do all instrumental (very challenging in it's own way), but I was very taken by Izzie's fresh approach to the tune.

I like Eric Clapton's version too. (It's on YouTube)

A buddy of mine was here last night and we had a great time re-harmonizing the chords of this very tune.

Arranger keyboards are a delight!

Ian

I love how we can turn a cover song into something 'uniquely ours' by simply changing the tempo, rhythm, chords, and even the lyrics,
and how much the arranger is such a great tool to help us in discovering that.

Yes sir Scott....it's called "Arranging"

I've done The Summer Wind as Swing, Bossa, Rhumba, Slow, Fast, Big Band, you name it, depending on how I feel.
DonM

It must be fairly widespread as my G70 has had this feature for years in cover tools.

"JUST THE WAY YOU ARE" or "SUMMER WIND" - Bossa ... (with 'Mellow Accordion' voice using 'Block Chord' for a solo in SW)

Clapton's "WONDERFUL TONIGHT" - reggae

"THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT" - bossa

"BROWN EYED GIRL" - Samba Rock

"Rt. 66" - boogie shuffle

just a few ...

So I guess the point has been made that you can do anyone in any style and thats the whole point of playing an arranger KB..

Great stuff, Tony, and excellent suggestions...I have never tried these tunes using those styles.

That is the beauty of such a thread as this...we all learn from each other's experience.

Ian

Try any of these suggestions in a nice Waltz to test your timing abilities.......most work really well also in 3/4.

Most standards sound nice as bossa novas. Some bossas sound nice as swing. Ipanema,wave, quiet nights,meditation sound cool as swing. My wife likes to sing Ipanema in a salsa.

I've heard really nice big band swing arrangements of Beatles tunes. Also I have a CD called "A Tropical Tribute to the Beatles" It's all salsa arrangements of the Beatles.

In Mexico I heard a Mariachi group do Beatles tunes. A good song trancends styles.

Also lately I have heard some of the typical "Great American Song Book" standards done by country artists in a country style. I don't know if this has been done for a long time but it sounds fresh to me.

Montunoman: Checkout this definitive classic 1978 album by Willie Nelson: Stardust.

Yes Scott, that's one of the tunes I was refering to. I been hearing alot of this kind of thing on an local college radio station. I guess country artists have been playing standards for awhile but it's new to me.

I get two or three "free" new songs a week. A lot of smooth jazz is recycled pop tunes from the 60's to 80's. Think "I Love You More Today Than Yesterday" and lots of others. This week it's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" and a Roberta Flack song (not sure of the name).

What fun! Don't need to rehearse at all! I just choose a jazz-type style and GO FOR IT!

One of the VERY FEW things about getting old!


Russ

Captain Russ
That is a very good point about getting old. We have spent untold years learning thousands of songs. We can now rejuvenate our repertoire and be young again. What a scary thought.
Bernie

Just heard "She's Come Undone" on my favorite smooth jazz station, done as a tasteful instrumental.

GOT ANOTHER ONE!

(LOL)

Russ (the ancient one) Lay

My take on it...

You spend the first twenty years learning what to play, and the next twenty years learning what NOT to play.