We should always aspire to improve our playing and musicality, and, in order to do that, we need to press on forward from the more simple jazz standards to the more complicated ones.
In this post I am going to talk about the six jazz standard every advanced player should know how to play and why. I will also add a link to every one of them for you to listen.
Relaxin' At Camarillo – There’s Nothing Like The Blues
Although playing the 12 bar blues can look simple enough, Relaxin’ At Camarillo, by Charlie Parker, shows you exactly how much more you can get out of this simple chord progression. The great use of rhythmic motifs and melodic phrasing makes this one of the best blues tunes to learn and listen to.
Make sure to check out Joe Pass’ version of this great tune:
I Got Rhythm – A Must Know Chord Progression
The tune I Got Rhythm was introduced to the world by George Gershwin at 1930 and soon after became a classic chord progression for jazz musician to compose melodies and improvise on. During your jazz learning journey, you will encounter endless tunes that use the same chord progression as the famous tune above. Every jazz player should know this tune by heart and even try to compose his own melodies on it. As the name implies, the head (main melody) of the tune got a lot of rhythm to it.
To feel that rhythm make sure you check Charlie Parker’s version:
Joy Spring – A Melody Made Right
In jazz, it is important to know how to build your improvisation melodically and rhythmically, to make it all make sense, and not like random notes one after another, to create musical “sentences”. The melody of the tune Joy Spring by Clifford Brown is a great example on how to do just that. Although it is the head of the tune, it is so well put together that you can use it in your own improvisation. The lines connect to each other effortlessly, even when changing to a new scale, and the art of motifs is used all the time.
To understand better you should go listen to Clifford Brown’s version:
Scrapple From The Apple – Another Great From One Of The Greats
If you want to learn the art of playing jazz, there is no better way then learning as much as you can from Charlie Parker. His use of rhythm, melodic approach and speed of playing is unmatched – some people might say – until today. The tune Scrapple From The Apple, of course composed by Charlie Parker, is a great way to get into playing Bebop in Charlie’s style.
Check his recording in the link below:
Jordu – A Slow Tempo Does Not Mean Slow Playing
The Tune Jordu, by Irving “Duke” Jordan, shows us how to connect slow melodic lines to fast lines over a slow or medium tempo tune. No need to say that the head of the tune is a great improvisation tool, mostly the B part, which uses a great rhythmic and melodic motif. But if you just wait and listen to Clifford Brown’s solo, you will hear a true master giving you all the tools you need in order to be a great jazz player.
Check it out in the link below:
So What – A different Approach To Harmony
As jazz musicians, we usually encounter the most iconic chord progression like the ii – V – I or the I – VI – ii – V. And here is where the tune So What, by Miles Davis, is different. Miles chose to use a Modal approach to his composition: instead of using one scale of a few, he uses one of the modes of music – in this particular composition, the Dorian mode. In order to be ready for every jam session situation and to broaden your musical horizons it is a must learn standard.
Don’t forget to check out Mile’s amazing solo when you listen to it:
Oleo – If You Got Until Here, You Deserve An Extra Standard As I said before, you really need to learn the chord progression of I Got Rhythm. So many famous jazz standards are built upon the chord changes of that tune. And Oleo, by Sonny Rollins, is one of those standards. A quick pace tune with a lot of interesting rhythmic movement. This tune is also an all-time favorite in jam sessions, so this is a must add for you list of songs. Go have a listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IY29EZb1pI&ab_channel=60otaku4
As I said before, you should always aspire to be better and look for more challenging tunes and musical ideas. It is not always easy, but nothing worth having is. You should take your time with these tunes. Each one of them have more to give then first meets the eye. Try to play them in different scales and analyze the harmony, the melody and the rhythmic patterns of each one. But, mostly, don’t forget to enjoy the process.
For more information about standards you should learn and online classes, contact me today.
Gal Dornay