Just one of Those Things: Tune of the Month April 07

A.K. Kibben · April 2007

Jack, et al,
I thought this would be a great Tune of the Month...
I would like to see what interest it generates...
I just learned it...
Great Cole Porter composition covered by many GJazzers...
It doesn't play itself and many versions do not follow the way I believe Cole wrote it...
I love the modulation from F to Eb...
I wish I knew more about theory...
I love this tune...
I have versions from Louis Armstrong and a great one from Pete Fountain that I refer to...
Best,
A.K.
BTW Jack, the care package was mailed out to you today. Should get it by Thursday...

Jack · April 2007

Hi Allin,

I've thought about it a few times now-it's one of my favorite tunes. The 'wrong' version is the one I learned first, so oddly enough I've always felt like it does play itself. Something about that relentless downward motion is just so right!

For those that aren't familiar with the usual gypsy jazz changes, I'm including a chart below. It's a bit different from what I play, but you'll get an idea of it. I'm at work now, but I'll try to get more into the differences later on if anyone's interested. The BIG difference with the chart below is of course the bridge; what we think of now as Django changes are played starting on Ab, so everything needs to modulate except the last two bars...

Great tune and a great suggestion! More to come!

Best,
Jack.
p.s. your mail is on its way...

Jack · April 2007

Back again...here's something more along the lines of what I play (including the Ab bridge):

Dm |Dm |A7 |A7 |F6 |F6 |G/B |Bdim |
F/A |Abdim |Gm |C7 |F6/9 |F#dim |Gm |A7 |

Dm |Dm |A7 |A7 |F6 |F6 |G/B |Bdim |
F/A |Adim |Gm |C7 |F6 |C7 |F6 |Eb7 |

Ab6 |Ab6 |Eb6 |Eb6 |Ab6 |Ab6 |C9 |C9 |
F6 |F6 |G/B |Bdim |F/A |Abdim |Gm6 |A7 |

repeat first A or use your own turnaround...hope that helps!

best,
Jack.

spatzo · April 2007

Hello Jack !

Just a few things need to be corrected :

Dm |Dm |A7 |A7 |F7 |F7 |G/B |Bbdim |
F/A |Abdim |Gm7 |C7 |F6/9 |F#dim |Em7b5 |A7 |

Dm |Dm |A7 |A7 |F7 |F7|G/B |Bbdim |
F/A |Abdim |Gm7 |C7 |F6 |C7 |F6 |Eb7 |

Ab6 |Ab6 |Eb7 |Eb7|Ab6 |Ab6 |C9 |C9 |
F6 |F6 |G/B |Bbdim |F/A |Abdim |Gm6(*) |A7 |

(*) misspelling of Em7b5/G

Please also note that often |G/B |Bbdim | etc... is played :

|Bm7b5 | Bbm6| Am7 |Ab13 |etc...

A+

Larssen · April 2007

Hi, this is one of my favorites also. One of my favorite recordings of it (beside Sinatras...) is Tchavolos on the Miri Familia album. The way he plays the head with just himself and the bassplayer is refreshing and from then its rock'n'roll... And not to forget the laughter at the ending(someone should stop smoking). I've written down some of the version i have listened to, Jimmy Rosenbergs from the "Trio"-album, Tchavolos and Djangos. I've also listened to Lollo Meiers and Raphael Fays nice recordings of this song but there the changes seems pretty much the same as the Django recording. When I play this song myself it tends to be a mix of all these...

best

Christian

Larssen · April 2007

Here's Lollo Meier's solo from the album "Hondarribia".

Christian

Jack · April 2007

spatzo wrote:

F6 |F6 |G/B |Bbdim |F/A |Abdim |Gm6(*) |A7 |

(*) misspelling of Em7b5/G

Please also note that often |G/B |Bbdim | etc... is played :

|Bm7b5 | Bbm6| Am7 |Ab13 |etc...

A+

I don't really think of it as a misspelling...it's still functioning as an Em7b5, it's just easier I think for people to grab quickly if the chart has it written as Gm6. But yes, same notes, and harmonically it's a ii-V with the A7. The first chart above shows the descending Bm etc. part you mention...I just put in the other one as well to show that people play that part in a few ways. Thanks for the input!

Thanks to for all the quick interest in this one, everyone!

best,
Jack.

spatzo · April 2007

Yes Jack ! you are right but I just wanted to point out the Sub-dominant role of that chord.

Above all those chords have 3 functions being m7b5 AND dominant 9th AND m6 chords so like this the vision is clearer.

Best

A+

A.K. Kibben · April 2007

Thanks guys,
I'll post the changes I play and prefer when I get a chance...
Other alt changes in a few bars....
Best...
A.K.
I have heard of the GJ versions from Tchavola, Fapy, Bireli and Jimmy but don't have those CD's yet...
However I do my research on other covers from non GJazzers...
Thanks...
Great thread, if I do say so myself...

A.K. Kibben · April 2007

(A1) | Dm7 | - | Em7 | A7 | F7 | - | Bm7b5 | Bbm6 |

| F/A | Dm7 | Gm7 | C7 | FM | F#o7 | Gm7 | Ebm7b5 |

(A2) | Dm7 | - | Em7 | A7 | F7 | - | Bm7b5 | Bbm6 |

| F/A | Abo | Gm7 | C7 | F | F#o7 | Fm7 | Bb7 |

(B) | Eb | Eo7 | Fm7 | Bb7 | Eb | - | Dm7 | G7 |

| C | Am7 | F#m7b5 | Fm7 | Em7 | F#o7 | Gm7 | Em7b5 A7(#9) |

(A3) | Dm7 | - | Em7 | A7 | F7 | - | Bm7b5 | Bbm6 |

| Am7 | D7 | Gm7 | C7 | F | - | Em7b5 | A7 |

M7, M6, M6/9 a matter of preference...

F#o7 (Ebo) Bar 14 (B)...

I believe this is the way Cole Porter composed it, if I am not mistaken.
That's what I love about Jazz is the variations and interpretations of compositions...

Thanks for the great input. I will also play (learn) it with the Ab bridge.

Thanks Christan for posting the charts, especially the Lollo Meier solo.
I enjoyed visiting your web site. Nice work. I wish you and your band all the best...

A.K.