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are there any outstanding blues songs out there that turn heads when played on piano.

There's a very nice version of "Sentimental Journey" that I have that always gets a response. But when I'm looking to attract people, I usually go to "Hit the Road, Jack" or a high-energy improv. I did a while back. Those turn heads.

Ray Charles turns heads every time, if you're in the right place.

I like "Moanin'" by Art Blakey. On piano it starts with just one bluesy riff and by the ninth bar it has opened way up. (Originally a big band tune)

A head turner fer sure.... But I agree with Derulux as well. Ray willdo the same.

Lush Life, Mood Indigo, Midnight Sun, Snowfall, Sentimental Rhapsody, I guess ANYTHING by the Duke of Ellington, the Earl of Bostic, the Count of Basie, the King of Oliver or the artist formerly known as Prince...

St Louis Blues usually does the trick. Here's an arrangement that melds some Fats Waller together with a little Johny Maddox:


midi web page

For something totally different, try taking a familiar tune from another genre and giving it a blues delivery. For instance, try singing Patsy Cline's Walking After Midnight to this:

midi web page

If you can't visualize it, the vocal mix is on I-Tunes somewhere.

Howard

do you have the sheet music for the second one?

do you also know a more modern blues track.

i like the second one alot. i picture this kind of music in those late night seedy bars.
the first ones more saloon like music, its nice but its just too saloon for me.

i've recently become facinated with "Georgia on my Mind". I don't know if it can officially be classified as blues but has kind of a blusey feel to it. I have an intermediate jazz book that has it in there. i'm learning it now. if played well, it will turn heads - although probably just about anything played well will turn heads.

Problem with sheet music for more modern blues like the 2nd one is that its under copyright so one couldn't publish even a derivitive work without a license. Fortunately bmi licenses my web site for performances, overwise I wouldn't even be able to make the midi file available. But you could try pulling the midi into Finale or a sequencing program with a staff view.

Howard

After Hours by Avery Parrish is a blues tune that always turns heads. Moanin was one of the first songs I took of a record and when ever I call that tune the musicians love it. Because it is a great jam tune and simple to play it is always a hit. All Blues can be a modern blues and everyone recognizes it so do your own arrangement. Here a link that might be helpful.

http://www.pbs.org/theblues/index.html

Get some ideas there and go to work. DPVJAZZ

Perhaps Jermone Kern's Can't Help Loving Dat Man of Mine. Again, not really a blues in the traditional AAB call and response form, but it makes me sit up and listen.