A few days ago with some friends tried to remember as many people as possible, which, in our opinion, changed the course of history. Well, if you expand this theme, you can highlight the 10 key aspects in various fields of human activity, which influenced the life, philosophy or just a taste of all mankind. Today I would like to highlight 10 jazz standards that are, in my opinion, are the basis of popular jazz music. Jazz standards are jazz tunes or themes that were once written by someone, and which are so memorable that they are known by all jazz musicians and almost all people. Good musicians, as, for example, says Wikipedia, by a couple hundred pieces, than I highly doubt.
Most likely, many of you know I have collected jazz songs, but each standard has its own history that not everyone knows.
1. Autumn leaves
Initially, in 1945, was the French song "Les Feuilles mortes" (literally "the Dead leaves") with music by Joseph Kosma (Kosma Joseph) and lyrics by poet Jacques prévert (Jacques Prevert). Yves Montand (with Irene Joachim) introduced "Les Feuilles mortes" in 1946 in the film Les Portes de la Nuit. In 1947 the American songwriter johnny Mercer wrote English lyrics of this song, and Jo Stafford was among the first who sang the new version of the song. Autumn leaves became a pop and jazz standard in both languages, but also in the instrumental version.
The video below presents an improvised version of this theme one of the best jazz improvisers and composers (and one of my favorites) of our time Keith Jarrett (Keith Jarrett). Please note, it's funny how he howls and swings during your solo. His game has a special charm and is different and is identified immediately by ear thanks to MIC miking it a kind of "mooing".
2. Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!
The song is also known under the name "Let It Snow". Lyrics written by Sammy Kahn (Sammy Cahn) and composer Julie Stein (Jule Styne) 1945 year. Interestingly , it was written in July 1945 in Hollywood during one of the hottest days of summer.
What's even more interesting - it knows, I think almost everyone on our blue ball, who explores the Universe, even one who has lived his entire life in the desert. Personally, I always sing this song when it snows or rain (Let it rain! You can still Let it fog!)
3. I've got you under my skin
Not everyone knows this song, which has covered all of jazz singers, if not on stage then certainly in soul for sure. Written by Cole porter (Cole Porter) and it was written in 1936. On the video presented (as in previous) it is performed by my favorite musician is Jamie Cullum (Jamie Culllum). After this song will be a little bonus - another song performed by Jamie - High and Dry (Radiohead). This is one of my favorite songs.
4. Fly me to the moon
And this topic is one that is more convenient to swing, even I, far from the swing man. Wrote a masterpiece of Bart Howard (Bart Howard) in 1954.
5. Take five
If a musician wants to test his musical sense on a non-standard rhythm, Take five is the best jazz composition, on which you can experiment. The size of 5 quarters proves that the song deserves attention. By the way, there are so many songs that begin as the famous standard, but came up with his "first time" Paul Desmond (Paul Desmond), and was first presented by the Quartet of the great Dave Brubeck (The Dave Brubeck Quartet) on the album "Time Out" in 1959
6. The entertainer
Well, everyone knows that. Wrote the song the founder of the style of "ragtime" Scott Joplin (Scott Joplin) more than 110 years ago (in 1902). Is classics of ragtime. This jazz Song has regained its international prominence during the "ragtime revival" in the 1970s, when it was used as musical themes for the movie "The Sting," which won an Oscar.
7. Singing in the rain
"Singing in the rain" - songs based on poems by Arthur Freda (Arthur Freed) and the music Nacio herb brown (Nacio Herb Brown), written in 1929, became famous after the movie. After watching the video, I always begin to rejoice!
8. Summertime
When people talk about jazz, they often mean it is “Summertime”. A piece written by George Gershwin in 1935 for the Opera "Porgy and Bess". The authors of the text: Dubos Heyward and Ira Gershwin (brother of George). Saying that the basis for writing arias Gershwin was taken by the Ukrainian lullaby song"Oh, sleep walking Kolo Windows," which he heard in new York performed by the Ukrainian National Choir, under the direction of Alexander Kosice. We give heat!
9. Feeling good
"Feeling Good" (also known as "Feelin 'Good") is a song written by English authors-songwriters Anthony Newley (Anthony Newley) and Bricusse Leslie (Leslie Bricusse) in 1965. Since then, the song was recorded by many performers, including the outstanding Nina Simone (Nina Simone).
10. Hello Dolly
Well, what can we do without Armstrong! But it is interesting that the author of music and lyrics of famous songs, not Armstrong – man, the first to set foot on Mars, and Jerry Herman (Herman) (Jerry Herman). The song was very popular in 1964, when it was played on the radio as often as today twist Lady Gaga. But we all loved Louis Armstrong made it what we know it today.
