[simon196]

Does anyone have examples of jazz groups/players who have covered popular songs by non jazz artists? I'm looking for something like these two videos;

Any suggestions/examples/commentary welcome.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Sonny Rollins did a nice version of "Isn't She Lovely".

 

[jd]

there are a bunch of old classic r/b tunes that I would love to redo ."could it be Im falling in love" or jr. Walkers "what does it take" check out Sanborns version of "you are everything" the O jayes "backstabbers" gerald Albrights "so amazing" or "stop look listen to your heart" etc. so many! Many have been redone by the smooth jazz guys all ready but there are tons more that havnt been redone .

 

[JL]

Way back around 1970, the Jazz Crusaders did a marvelous (I've never used that word before, but it just came out so I'll let it stand) rendition of the Beatle's "Eleanor Rigby:"

That's one of my favorite versions of a 'non-jazz' tune covered by a great jazz band.

 

[Bill Mecca]

King Curtis

 

[jazzcat58]

just to name a couple but stanley turrentine, dave sanborn,both covered a lot of poular tunes,stan getz did a whole album dedicated to burt bacharach so the more you look into it the more you find!.
I actually like a lot of the renditions and the thing is it often appeals to the people who have little understanding of jazz, but can associate with r,n,b.

 

[simon196]

I'm looking for newer stuff. I do like all the suggestions though; ear openers all of 'em.

 

[JL]

I'm looking for newer stuff. I do like all the suggestions though; ear openers all of 'em.

This isn't a new concept. Jazz players throughout history have used popular tunes of the day as a template for improvisation. That's getting more difficult now. The great composers of the "American Song Book" are all gone.

 

[Wagspdx]

Herbie Hancock - Done lots of covers. Check out this site:

http://www.coversproject.com/artist/herbie%20hancock/

 

[magical pig]

Brad Meldhau has played a few covers of rock and pop tunes. Check the cover of "Chariots of Fire" by the Bad Plus.

 

[jrvinson45]

Najee (smooth jazz type) covered the entire collection of Stevie Wonder's "Songs From The Key of Life" some of it really kicks butt! Oh yeah, try Eric Marienthal's album "Got You Covered"... Not too obvious.

 

[Koen88]

Candy Dulfer (not really a jazz artist) but she did a nice cover of alicia keys' Empire state of mind..

 

[Butters]

Unless you are playing the song relatively straight its kinda pointless. That beatles cover is interesting and all, but it doesn't really have anything to with the original. Especially once the extended soloing starts.

 

[altoguy]

Check out Sophie Milman, who does covers of Paul Simon ('50 Ways to Leave Your Lover') and Springsteen ('I'm on Fire').

Really nice versions of the tunes, I think.

Andy

 

[ekdowlin]

Here's a cover of Radiohead's "Everything in it's right place" by Brad Mehldau:

 

[adamk]

Miles Davis doing Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time". I heard him play this around that time.

 

[jazzcat58]

Candy Dulfer (not really a jazz artist) but she did a nice cover of alicia keys' Empire state of mind..

better left alone really IMO!,some tunes are not easy to duplicate and still to have the same effect, this i feel is one of them.

 

[gary]

Patricia Barber does some very creative things with relatively modern pop songs.

Way back around 1970, the Jazz Crusaders did a marvelous . . . rendition of the Beatle's "Eleanor Rigby:".

Thanks for that walk down memory lane, JL. I got that LP when it came out and played it regularly. I was not usually fond of the modern (at the time) attempts by jazzers of taking tunes and playing them with boogaloo beats and the like, but I really liked this recording.

Now that we're years away from it and I haven't heard it for some years, there's a strong Ramsey Lewis vibe to the piano solo, no?

 

[Multi Reed]

Chris Potter covered Radiohead's Morning Bell.

Also, try these links
http://www.jazz.com/dozens/the-dozens-when-jazz-cats-meet-rockers
http://www.jazz.com/dozens/beatles-covers-leskovic
http://www.jazz.com/dozens/the-dozens-the-new-standards
http://www.jazz.com/dozens/the-dozens-jazz-bjrk

 

[Koen88]

how about this! A real NON-jazz song jazzified! starts in around 30s

*edit: swingefied is perhaps more accurate..*