Why don't jazzers record pop tunes any more?

[cloughie]

This is a troll, right? It may be easy to play a literal copy of the original song, less so I would suggest to do what Lloyd and his group did on that performance I linked to, where they took fragments of Brian Wilson's song and spun out something new. There would be no point in copying Pet Sounds, Tapestry, Rumours, or Never Mind The Bollocks for that matter, note for note.

As SA says, the composer in his castle, the improviser at his gate...keep those PRS royalty cheques coming in...aye, that's smart alright

How articulate - This is a troll, right means????? I think you misunderstand my point. I absolutely agree there would be no point in copying Pet Sounds, Tapestry, Rumours, or Never Mind The Bollocks for that matter, note for note. A good jazz musician can take a tune and play around with it - it's what they do - a good arranger can make a song sound different - it's what they do. It's clever - yes - rocket science no. To claim that they took fragments of Brian Wilson's song and spun out something new is overstating the case - to say they took it and had a bit of fun playing around with it is nearer the truth. I love to hear different versions of songs and don't like pointless straight covers. The musical talents in arranging music either formally or informally I have the greatest respect for but please give a bit of credit to the originator. The really clever improviser is also the composer and claims the castle. Happy New Year TF and enjoy your music!

[Ian Thumwood]

Bruce

I think it as been noticeable over the last 10 years how jazz musicians no longer abide by chord sequences when playing standards and just improvise on elements of the tune or a few phrases / bars. The first time I appreciated this was happening when i saw Herbie Hancock with Mike Brecker and Roy Hargrove. This is becoming more common place. Don't know if you have checked out Josh Berman's "There now" which reconsructs some hackneyed Dixieland numbers into something else. This is probably the most orthodox track on the record but not quite the "re-composition" of some of the other interpretations...