Oddest song request yet

[cedar]

My jazz trio is playing a wedding party coming up. The client was looking for a jazz trio (piano, upright bass and drums) specifically, and I made it extremely clear when we were hired what to expect. As the date has approached, they've requested a few totally typical jazz standards plus the following tune.

 

Ever get an odder request (to be played by a jazz trio)?

 

[video:youtube]

[The Real MC]

Ever get an odder request (to be played by a jazz trio)?

 

:cofee:

[MathOfInsects]

Awesome!!

[Moonglow]

Awesome!!

+1

 

Actually, I think we should all learn that song.

[CowboyNQ]

Tell 'em you'll play everything from 3:40 onwards in the set break.

[NewImprov]

I could totally hear this tune performed by a piano trio, there are some interesting harmonies that you could expand on. Thinking of Brad Mehldau's Radiohead arrangements.

[cedar]

Yes, I can imagine a Brad-like interpretation, given some time to work it out. But I am certain that is not what the client envisioned.

[Daniel Heslop]

Playing lounge piano in a restaurant I got a request for anything by Motley Crew. When I told him I didn't have anything by them, his second choice was Moonlight Sonata. I played a shortened version of that.

It always struck me as an unusual pair for a request.

[Mighty Motif Max]

Well... I suppose it could be worse. I could see it working. Just skip the pseudo-metal part. Or, invoke Jordan Rudess.

 

 

 

 

I had an accordion gig a few years back where a guy approached me, and asked the following:

 

"Hey, can you play that song about chickens?"

Me - "Which song?"

"You know, that one about dead chickens finally being free?"

Me - "Do you know the name of the song?"

"Umm, "Free the Birds" or something like that. Until you play it, you aren't a real man or a real musician. Get with the times dude! Everyone knows the dead chicken song." Then he sat down on the edge of the stage and started swearing and throwing insults at me for the next 45 minutes.

 

 

 

 

He wanted... "Freebird"...on accordion.

 

 

 

And then there are the people who told me, "What kind of cut-rate musician are you!? You don't have a "Rap" category on your accordion list of songs?? What's wrong with you? Weirdo!" :idk

 

 

 

[Tusker]

Yes, I can imagine a Brad-like interpretation, given some time to work it out. But I am certain that is not what the client envisioned.

 

It's nice that the client feels they can trust with you with an unusual request.

 

Have you considered using "The Bad Plus" as one of your influences for this song? They operate at a less cerebral level than Brad Mehldau.

 

When a client asks for something oddball along with conventional tunes, I figure all they are entitled to is a "best effort" on my part. Usually they are delighted that I took the trouble, despite my uncertainty or ambivalence. All the best.

[cedar]

Again, I agree it's possible to find a way to re-interpret the tune. But for this event, it's just not going to happen. I am not going to get a chance to rehearse with the drummer and bass player in advance. Because this tune actually has multiple time signature changes - from 4/4 to 6/4 and later from 4/4 to 3/4 - I wouldn't feel comfortable attempting it without either a quick rehearsal or a very clear chart. And then there's a matter of finding a suitable rhythmic feel. So the risk of butchering the tune without any rehearsal, I think, far outweighs any benefit.

 

I am toying with the idea of seeing if I can come up with some kind of solo piano rendition. But ultimately the problem is that, the more I deviate from the original tune, the less it will be recognized and enjoyed by the client. Ultimately, I think they will be happiest if I just bring the actual recording and play it through our PA system.

 

Anyway, the point of this thread was not to suggest the song is unplayable; I just found it a weird request to make of a jazz trio (especially in view of their other requests for very typical standards).

[JB Sherry]

It _is_ kinda jazzy though. It sounds like they started from a completely different place and ended up almost at jazz-rock fusion. The section with the heavy guitar lead could be covered by bowed bass, keeping the driving rhythm but with a soft dynamic instead of loud.

 

It's a cool tune, but way more complicated than the typical pop-song request for a function. If you could find a chart and everyone reads well, I would do it!

[Bill H.]

When specific songs are requested for a wedding, it's often because the lyrics resonate with the couple somehow. So I looked them up:

 

Numina

In the night move a cup

Mowing grass at farm

Numina

Roman god wonderers

Are beyond my sight

Circle shapes

 

and that's it!

 

Cedar please follow up with a gig report. This may be quite interesting!

[Threadslayer]

Cedar please follow up with a gig report. This may be quite interesting!

Absolutely, especially if you can chat with the guy and find out what he finds so compelling about this particular tune. I once had to learn Freedom Jazz Dance and The Tarantella for a country and western wedding gig.

[allan_evett]

Awesome!!

+1

 

Actually, I think we should all learn that song.

 

I concur.. I'm working up an arrangement for my church gig; it's just what we've been looking for. This one should really get 'butts in the seats'.

[cedar]

When specific songs are requested for a wedding, it's often because the lyrics resonate with the couple somehow. So I looked them up:

 

Numina

In the night move a cup

Mowing grass at farm

Numina

Roman god wonderers

Are beyond my sight

Circle shapes

 

and that's it!

 

Cedar please follow up with a gig report. This may be quite interesting!

 

Will do. In the meantime, please provide your interpretation for these lyrics.

[Marzzz]

Actually, I think we should all learn that song.

Absolutely! My wife will hate it...!

[cedar]

Here is my brief gig report:

 

Before guests arrived, I met the happy couple and explained why I didn't feel we could play the tune with this instrumentation in a manner that they would like. They were completely fine with it.

 

I asked what was special about the song; they said that they simply liked the band. I asked what the lyrics meant; they had absolutely no idea.

 

The gig itself was quite standard. First hour was a cocktail hour. We stayed out of the way, got a handful of compliments. The remainder was during dinner. Contrary to expectations, the guests weren't that interested in dancing. Played a few requests from the older guests.

 

Afterwards, we received a lot of nice feedback.

 

So this turned out to be a very mellow, undemanding and appreciative crowd. No one cared that we didn't play the tune mentioned in this thread.

[Ulf]

Have you considered using "The Bad Plus" as one of your influences for this song? They operate at a less cerebral level than Brad Mehldau.

 

"less cerebral level than Brad Mehldau"? The Bad Plus?

 

:-)

 

[MathOfInsects]

Here is my brief gig report:

 

Before guests arrived, I met the happy couple and explained why I didn't feel we could play the tune with this instrumentation in a manner that they would like. They were completely fine with it.

 

I asked what was special about the song; they said that they simply liked the band. I asked what the lyrics meant; they had absolutely no idea.

 

The gig itself was quite standard. First hour was a cocktail hour. We stayed out of the way, got a handful of compliments. The remainder was during dinner. Contrary to expectations, the guests weren't that interested in dancing. Played a few requests from the older guests.

 

Afterwards, we received a lot of nice feedback.

 

So this turned out to be a very mellow, undemanding and appreciative crowd. No one cared that we didn't play the tune mentioned in this thread.

 

Excellent.

 

Next time, consider having the conversation about the song in advance, rather than waiting until you got there for the event. This would let you find out why they want it and maybe even suggest a couple of replacements, or at least say, "OK, if we can't nail this particular one I have a couple of others that I think you're going to love." OR, flip side, it would let you find out that of all the songs, that was the most necessary, and then it's time to get your shred on in the woodshed for a couple of weeks.

 

Glad it turned out well either way.