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Hi all,

Looking for more jazz-influenced-but-not-jazz type piano lounge music similar to this:

http://www.mediafire.com/?gqa7mr1f8mwc35a

(sorry for poor scan quality).

I'm looking for stuff that is good background music but not the typical jazz standards, stuff that can be played as background music in a restaurant but doesn't demand any attention per say (this music I shared seems to fit the bill perfectly).

I haven't found much quite like this so I'm hoping other PianoWorlders have found stuff they can recommend! Thanks!

The Reader's Digest music books have great arrangements. For example, these:

http://www.amazon.com/Readers-Digest-Treasury-All-Time-Favorites/dp/B000L5SET8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1346342443&sr=8-1&keywords=reader%27s+digest+songs

http://www.amazon.com/Readers-Digest-Popular-Songs-Forever/dp/B000LZBR5Q/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1346342443&sr=8-15&keywords=reader%27s+digest+songs

I think that the "typical jazz standards" are perfect. I always figure that people like it when they recognize the tune (Fly me to the Moon, Lullaby of Birdland, Pennies from Heaven, etc.).

Dear koul58

As was already mentioned, your best bet is to go with Jazz standards. My question (based on the two staff notated music that you posted) is do you know how to play from chord symbols?

If you can do this, there are many Fake Books (many published by Hal Leonard, e.g "This is The Ultimate Fakebook" that have lots of jazz standards. I played the type of music you are talking about in restaurants and hotels for many years.
You can hear some of my recordings by listening to the audio player on my blog (see my signature below) and there are a couple of arrangements in the Music Theory section of my website. It depends on your interests, style of playing, musical background as to what music books will work best for you.
Let me know your thoughts on what I have said and I'll be able to direct you further.
All the best,
Ed

Thanks Al, Ed,

After a bit of looking around I have begun to find what I'm looking for. Stuff like the opening of Keith Jarrett's version of My Funny Valentine:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-phggJG2sM

is close to what I'm looking for. I'm looking for stuff that will not really gather attention, I am not planning to do any fancy playing as I am classically trained. I'm also aiming to play from totally notated scores and not to do improvisation or play from lead sheets (at least for the time being).

The idea is to get off the ground this way, practice jazzier chord patterns and shapes as a way of practicing for the 4-piece band I'm playing keyboard in, outside of the rehearsals, and ultimately to slowly inch my way closer to true jazz musicianship.

There is a restaurant near me where I would like to offer services so I want to build up a few hours of repertoire by the quickest means possible (pretty much by playing from a giant book of notated stuff I compile over the next few months/year).

Thanks in advance for any and all further help!