Dan Gould Posted November 21, 2003 Report Posted November 21, 2003 I may be blasphemous, but I'm going to nominate "Caravan." Quote
Harold_Z Posted November 21, 2003 Report Posted November 21, 2003 Dan, you never know what somebody may bring to a tune. For me that's one of the great things about jazz. Any tune is cool with me. Quote
Dan Gould Posted November 21, 2003 Author Report Posted November 21, 2003 I'd usually agree with you, maybe its that '"Caravan" has popped up too often lately, but when Jimmy Forrest's version from his Delmark album with Grant Green came up a little while ago, I kinda snapped and started this thread! Quote
Jim Alfredson Posted November 21, 2003 Report Posted November 21, 2003 You need to hear Lonnie Smith's version. Unfortunately I don't think he's recorded it yet. But I've seen him do it live a couple of times and it's fantastic! Quote
Free For All Posted November 21, 2003 Report Posted November 21, 2003 This was discussed in another thread- I certainly could name some tunes that I'm burned out on, but that doesn't necessarily mean those tunes are weak. Just when I thought I'd heard every conceivable version of a standard, someone comes along and discovers a fresh approach, or they just play with so much conviction and taste that I re-develop interest in the tune. I think it's more of an issue of weak performances that an inherent weakness in the tune itself. That being said, all of us do have our most and least favorite tunes, and that's cool. On Woody's band I had to play Woodchopper's Ball every night, sometimes more than once. Now there's a basically one-note blues head that can get really boring- what made it interesting night after night was the rhythm section copping a hard swinging groove and the soloists attempting to find something new to play each time. Being on the road, the audience is different each night- they don't know if you're playing the same solo that you played last night in another city. But the other players on the stand hear you every night, and they know who's just "phoning it in". Those are the people I'm most playing for. So I think it's about the performance more than the tune. Just to be fair, I'll name a tune that I myself am tired of- There Will Never Be Another You. Now I know of several great recordings of it- a Sonny Rollins and also a Jim McNeeley version, to name a couple. I just feel I've "mined" all I can from it, and don't want to play it for a while. Maybe after a break I'll rediscover some new things to do with it, but in the meantime I'll let someone more inspired have at it. It might be someones else's favorite tune right now. I know my most/least favorite list changes regularly. As for me, I currently like Caravan. I can understand what you're saying, Dan, and I've certainly heard lame versions of it, but I think it's still an interesting tune. With two bridges! Quote
ghost of miles Posted November 21, 2003 Report Posted November 21, 2003 I keep thinking "Summertime," but then I always seem to hear a version of it that sounds just a bit different, just a bit more interesting--nonetheless, I still find myself wishing a five-year-shelf plan upon it. Quote
Jazzmoose Posted November 21, 2003 Report Posted November 21, 2003 I agree with the posts saying "it's not the song; it's what you bring to the song. On the other hand, when I read the thread title, Summertime immediately popped into my head... Quote
AfricaBrass Posted November 21, 2003 Report Posted November 21, 2003 I love Summertime! But, if not played with much inspiration, it can be pretty bad. But when it's played well. Quote
Harold_Z Posted November 21, 2003 Report Posted November 21, 2003 Dan, I haven't heard the Jimmy Forest/ Grant Green CARAVAN - but I take it it's uninspired?? Quote
Sundog Posted November 22, 2003 Report Posted November 22, 2003 May I suggest the version of Caravan from Kenny Burrell's Ellington Is Forever Vol. 1. Nothing uninspired about that reading. For me it's got to be Autumn Leaves. Been there done that! Of course the one exception is Miles' and Cannonball's version from Something Else. Quote
Late Posted November 22, 2003 Report Posted November 22, 2003 I could live without "My Funny Valentine" for about the next 27.6 years. This tune, for better or worse, often prevents my purchasing certain discs. Quote
BeBop Posted November 22, 2003 Report Posted November 22, 2003 A fabulous song that's been done to death: 'Round Midnight Around the time the namesake movie came out, it seems like everyone recorded it. By contrast, it seems like everyone (at least in the Swing/Big Band world) has recorded One O'Clock Jump, but I'm cool with that. Quote
Dan Gould Posted November 22, 2003 Author Report Posted November 22, 2003 Dan, I haven't heard the Jimmy Forest/ Grant Green CARAVAN - but I take it it's uninspired?? I wouldn't necessarily say that, Harold. It was more a straight reading of the melody that made me go "ugh, I used to dig that pseudo exotic thing, but damn, I think I've heard it too damn much!" and I didn't exactly listen to the solos, I was fighting the urge to cue up the next tune ... then came the return to the theme and I said, "yup, I've heard this sucker too many times" and then I started this thread. Quote
Jazzmoose Posted November 22, 2003 Report Posted November 22, 2003 I could live without "My Funny Valentine" for about the next 27.6 years. This tune, for better or worse, often prevents my purchasing certain discs. And strangely enough, I've purchased certain discs just because it does contain this tune! Quote
mikeweil Posted November 22, 2003 Report Posted November 22, 2003 I'd rather like to see those bands retire who just won't stop playing standards in uninspired ways! Quote
Matthew Posted November 22, 2003 Report Posted November 22, 2003 Still haven't changed my mind. Please, please, PLEASE stop recording Baby It's Cold Outside! Quote
Jazzmoose Posted November 22, 2003 Report Posted November 22, 2003 Still haven't changed my mind. Please, please, PLEASE stop recording Baby It's Cold Outside! Yeah, once David Johannsen (by whatever silly name it was he was going by!) did that one, the plug should have been pulled! Quote
brownie Posted November 22, 2003 Report Posted November 22, 2003 It's the player! Not the tune. The only time I really get upset by a tune is when I hear a lousy street musician or subway player go into 'Desafinado' Quote
Brad Posted November 22, 2003 Report Posted November 22, 2003 I agree with those who say it's what you bring to the song. There's none that I would retire, especially Love for Sale. That's one of my faves, along with All the Things You Are. To cite three versions that are different but each quite fantastic, listen to Miles' version of Love for Sale, the Three Sounds and Art Tatum's. All unique but very cool in their own ways. Quote
STAX Posted November 22, 2003 Report Posted November 22, 2003 I got to go with Dan. Caravan is overdone. Quote
JSngry Posted November 22, 2003 Report Posted November 22, 2003 "I wanna hear Caravan with a drum solo!" Quote
wesbed Posted November 22, 2003 Report Posted November 22, 2003 Although it is not a bad song, and it is a song I like, I was beginning to tire of A Night In Tunisia. Then I listened to Dexter's vesion of the song on Our Man in Paris. My thoughts changed to, A Night In Tunisia, what a fantastic tune. Yes, it is the player, not the song. Quote
7/4 Posted November 22, 2003 Report Posted November 22, 2003 "I wanna hear Caravan with a drum solo!" Zappa? Quote
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