Steve Nathan Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 Lots of good suggestions here. I noticed however that nobody mentioned Donny Hathaway. Though he was a hell of a singer, he also did some amazing keyboard driven instrumental stuff like "Valdez in the Country" and "The Slums", with one of the funkiest bands ever assembled (including the fabulous Willy Weeks on bass). I'd also highly recommend that any player interested in one of the finest R&B/SOul/Jazz/Blues keys player, check out his live cut of "What's Goin' On". Steve Nathan Don't rush me. I'm playing as slowly as I can! http://www.stevenathanmusic.com/stevenathanmusic.com/HOME.html https://apple.co/2EGpYXK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjsm Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 Telstar Wild Weekend Tequila The Lonely Bull Walk Don't Run Wipeout Pipeline Out of Limits Theme from Lawrence of Arabia A Swinging Safari These are some of the intrumentals I play now and then. These are from the early to mid sixties, when intrumentals occasionally made the top ten. Another source for intrumentals, mentioned by other posters, is TV show themes. I have TV show music books with the music from the old Superman TV show, Lone Ranger(William Tell Overture), Twilight Zone, Adams Familly, Bonanza, many others. You can pick up these on online sheet music stores or eBay. I usually split my keyboard into zones (an 88 key Kawai MP9500), run through Kontakt soft sampler; Telstar is set up with rock organ in zone 3, guitar in zone 2, bass in zone 1, in zone 4 at the top of the keyboard a synthesizer patch - or I'll set piano, horns, etc. in various zones depending on the piece. One trick I sometimes use on some songs is to raise the zone I'm using for the main melody up an octave on the keyboard, (and down an octave in the settings, so it sounds right). That way, I can extend the accompliment intrument so it and the melody instrument ranges can overlap. This works best with songs where the melody centers between middle C and C above it. Songs centered higher, for example on the E an ocatve and a third above middle C usually don't need this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricG Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 We used to these ones. (more on the funky/ fusion side): Chicken - Jaco Pastorius Garden Party - Mezzoforte Rio Funk - Lee Ritnour Pick up the pieces - Avarage white band Stratus - Billy Cobham 101 shuffle - Dave Weckl Jake to the bone - Toto Birdland - Weather Repport A remark you made - Weather Repport Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moj Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 The "In" Crowd and Slippin' Into Darkness - Ramsey Lewis Mr. Magic - Grover Washington Put It Where You Want It - Crusaders Footprints - Wayne Shorter Spain - Chick Corea Bubblehouse - Medeski, Martin and Wood Originally posted by Is There Gas in the Car?: Who recorded Cissy Strut? John Scofield recorded a great version on Flat Out (with Don Grolnick on keyboards) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Analogaddict Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 Originally posted by Steve Nathan: Lots of good suggestions here. I noticed however that nobody mentioned Donny Hathaway. Though he was a hell of a singer, he also did some amazing keyboard driven instrumental stuff like "Valdez in the Country" and "The Slums", with one of the funkiest bands ever assembled (including the fabulous Willy Weeks on bass). I'd also highly recommend that any player interested in one of the finest R&B/SOul/Jazz/Blues keys player, check out his live cut of "What's Goin' On". Steve Nathan I love Donny's stuff. "Valdez..." has a lot in common with some of the BNH stuff. "The Slums" is just plain great stuff. For slicker intros, George Benson's "Breezin'" or Sonny Rollins "S:t Thomas" work great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stepay Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 Dave Bryce, Hawaii Five-O and Mission Impossible are definitely good TV theme songs, but respectfully, I'll have to stick with my original statement that Sanford & Son is the best. Everyone has different tastest, and the funk gets me every time. Quincy Jones is a genius. Steve (Stevie Ray) "Do the chickens have large talons?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niacin Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 If you like Cissy Strut there's more good Meters stuff: - Funky Miracle - Look Ka Py Py - 9 to 5 & The JBs (James Brown's backing band): - Pass the Peas - Soul Power the theme from the Flintstones is also a scream if you push the tempo. Gig keys: Hammond SKpro, Korg Vox Continental, Crumar Mojo 61, Crumar Mojo Pedals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue JC Posted February 3, 2006 Author Share Posted February 3, 2006 Originally posted by niacin: the theme from the Flintstones is also a scream if you push the tempo. I forgot about the Flintstones theme. Thanks for mentioning it. You're right - it's a lot of fun to play really fast with a jazzy swing groove. I never really considered all of these TV and movie themes but they are great ideas for this purpose: recognizable melodies that are fun to play. Thanks for all of the great suggestions. Best, JC Everybody's got to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer. W. C. Fields Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed A. Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 "Outta Space" by Billy Preston. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeep Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 Wow!..... excellent suggestions, guys! With keys, and a decent ROTB (Rest Of The Band ), there's a boatload of stuff you can whip out. Many R&B standards make punchy, danceable instrumentals. Ray Charles - I've Got a Woman, Hallelujah I Love Her So , etc. Sly and JB offer a buncha themes you can dig in on (and on...) Freddie King had a whack of 'em along the lines of Hideaway. BookerT & the MGs were masters at distilling a popular tune down to its kickin' and tasteful essence. Jimmy McGriff - All About My Girl or timeless grooves like: Night Train Swingin' Shepherd Blues Honky Tonk, Part 1 & 2 Saxophonists offer lotsa goodies: Joe Houston - All Night Long Cannonball - Sack 'o Woe Mar-Keys - Last Night, Philly Dog, Honey Pot Junior Walker - Shotgun, Cleo's Mood, Cleo's Back King Curtis - Soul Twist, and the ultimate: Memphis Soul Stew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaceboy92 Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 the chicken by jaco - good call, love that tune. Can't believe no one suggested this one yet: a great tune BASED around the piano, that EVERYONE knows - Linus and Lucy!!! (The theme from Peanuts, by Vince Guaraldi) that gets a response EVERYtime, especially if played with a band. Less likely, but also popular (i think...) "On Broadway", i forget who it's by (probably someone who i'd be embarassed to forget...), but it's a good little piano ditty. Seriously though - Linus and Lucy. It's a CLASSIC. If you like Vince's music, you should check out George Winston's "music of Linus and Lucy" - it's a whole bunch of Vince's compositions on solo piano. VERY good. "wherever you go, there you are" "If practice makes perfect, and nobody's perfect, then why bother practicing??" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeep Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 Originally posted by Dave Bryce: Linus and Lucy is another good one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaceboy92 Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 oops, sorry, didn't see that. Obviously, what I MEANT to do was to further reinforce Dave's suggestion.... "wherever you go, there you are" "If practice makes perfect, and nobody's perfect, then why bother practicing??" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeep Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 Originally posted by Spaceboy92: Obviously, what I MEANT to do was to further reinforce Dave's suggestion.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rickkk Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 How about some Henry Mancini if you're looking for some smooth stuff ... "Moon River" was already mentioned ... or "Pink Panther", "Theme From Romeo and Juliet" ... Also, Ennio Morricone: "Theme From Once Upon a Time in The West", "Good The Bad and The Ugly". Burt Bacharach's "This Guy's In Love With You" ... For good full band piano boogie, check out Nicky Hopkins' "Pig's Boogie" from his album "The Tin Man Was A Dreamer" (admittedly hard to find ..), or Billy Joel's "Root Beer Rag". For 20's-style piano & band boogie check out any of Mrs. Smith's instrumental interpretations (her "Chicago" really kicks ...). Ciao, Rick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real MC Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 Linus-n-Lucy (aka The Peanuts Theme) always gets a reaction. If you have the George Winston CD of Vince's stuff, Eighty-Five-Five gets a good reaction for its swampy New Orleans feel. Scott Joplin is great too, esp Maple Leaf Rag and Pine Apple Rag. One time I pulled Music Box Dancer (remember THAT one?) out of the blue. I occasionally pull out The Pink Panther, and the band joins me on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Bryce Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 Originally posted by stepay: Hawaii Five-O and Mission Impossible are definitely good TV theme songs, but respectfully, I'll have to stick with my original statement that Sanford & Son is the best. Everyone has different tastest, and the funk gets me every time. Quincy Jones is a genius. But of course. I was just havin' fun...everyone has different tastes, and nobody's wrong for liking what they like. Heck, I know people who think the theme to Dallas is the best TV theme ever... dB ==> David Bryce Music • Funky Young Monks <== Professional Affiliations: Royer Labs • Music Player Network Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeep Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 Smokin\'Instrumental To End A Set With Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PianoJazz1951 Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 ...that's great, Jeep. I saw NRBQ open with the "I Love Lucy" theme years ago... We will not waiver; we will not tire; we will not falter; and we will not fail! George W. Bush Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Tonewheel Posted February 4, 2006 Share Posted February 4, 2006 "Outta Space" by Billy Preston (work that Nord Electro!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C J Hoffman Posted February 4, 2006 Share Posted February 4, 2006 Hornsby's "The Way It Is". Have the horn or guitar play the vocal melody then take off Hornsby style on the piano parts! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whurly Posted February 6, 2006 Share Posted February 6, 2006 I love 'Valdez' - 'The Ghetto' and 'Everything is Everything' from Donny Live are also fantastic. There's a Jamaican rock steady version of 'Hang 'em High' by Richard Ace which is that little bit different and goes down very well. Jimmy McGriff's 'Doggone' from the 'Starting Five' album is also a killer - the left hand groove is perfectly sleazy. The original has a guitarist doing the head but you can do it on a Hammond and it sounds just as good if not better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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