Friday, March 21, 2008

What's your favorite tune?

I was just sitting around thinking one day. It seems like everyone has a favorite song, no matter the genre. Rock fans each have their favorite, country fans have their favorite, rap fans have theirs, hip-hop fans have theirs. This got me to thinking, "What's my favorite jazz tune?"

I set the following criteria: since jazz is such a rich world of arrangements, my favorite tune had to be one I would listen to no matter the arrangement or artist. Whether or not said artist or group plays the tune well is secondary. That being said, my favorite jazz tune is:

Mack the Knife

This tune swings like crazy no matter how many times I've played it myself in various groups or listened to it from various singers. It's a simple melody and the modulation by half step adds even more excitement. By far, the most fun arrangement for me to listen to is Ella Fitzgerald's rendition from her Live in Berlin album. Some would say that doesn't count as a full rendition since she loses the lyrics after three choruses. But she plunges ahead, improvising new lyrics, still seeming to enjoy the tune and the creative singing process.

So, what's your favorite tune? Which song will you listen to no matter which group is playing?

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