Must-know standards for joining a jazz-funk session
Sessions that are regularly held at various shops.
They’re often organized by genre—blues, jazz, funk, and so on—but each genre has its own set of so-called standard tunes.
These are songs that are performed somewhere every night—this time, we’ll introduce a few such standards.
If you’re wondering “What is a session in the first place?” then first…herePlease start from here.
Must-know standards for joining a jazz-funk session
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This time I’ve limited it to ten songs, but there are many other tracks that could be called classics.
Rather than trying to memorize everything at once, I recommend attending sessions regularly and gradually increasing your repertoire.
This time, I’ll introduce a few songs that are often played at funk jam sessions.
Cissy Strut | The Meters
It’s a song by METERS.
John Scofield’s performances are famous as well.
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The Chicken | Za Chikin
It’s also well known that Jaco Pastorius featured it with his own big band.
Pee Wee Ellis, who belonged to James Brown’s band the JB’s, is the original.
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Cantaloop Island | Herbie Hancock
Herbie Hancock's performance is famous.
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Chameleon | Hearbie Hancock
This is also a song by Herbie Hancock.
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Superstition | Stevie Wonder
It’s a song by Stevie Wonder.
The original is famous too, but the covers by BBA and Stevie Ray Vaughan are also well known.
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Sunny | Bobby Hebb
Bobby Hebb is the original.
I think John Scofield’s cover is probably the best-known version of the instrumental.
Since many other songs that use the same chord progression are often featured in sessions, it’s a good idea to have at least one of them under your belt.
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Jesus Children of America | Stevie Wonder
One example that uses the same chord progression as the earlier song “Sunny” is this track.
The original song is by Stevie Wonder, but covers by Soulive and Robert Glasper are also well-known.
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Feel Like Makin’ Love | Roberta Flack
Marlena Shaw’s cover is very famous.
Roberta Flack is the original.
It is frequently performed both as an instrumental and with vocals.
D’Angelo covered it too, didn’t he?
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What's Goin' On | Marvin Gaye
It’s one of Marvin Gaye’s signature songs.
Donny Hathaway’s cover is also well known, and in sessions it’s often performed with an arrangement that follows his take.
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Isn’t She Lovely | Stevie Wonder
It’s a song by Stevie Wonder.
It’s also well known as a song dedicated to my beloved daughter, Aisha.
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Lastly
How was it?
There may have been songs you’ve played before or ones you’ve heard.
If you start attending sessions regularly, I think you’ll end up performing at some point, so please be sure to check it out.
Even the same piece can have several different arrangements, so I think watching various people’s performances on YouTube and the like can be a good warm-up.