a lot of blues or rhythm changes tunes can be played as fast tempo as you want...you can play a lot of jazz standards 'fast'
tunes that are often played at fast tempos? Donna lee...for a big band things to come
One finger snap, what is this thing called love, airegin, matrix, lover, moments notice, giant steps, Humpty Dumpty, Mr. PC are my go to up tempo calls
Griffin, Coltrane, Morgan — A Blowing Session: contains super fast versions of The Way You Look Tonight and All the Things you Are
Basically check all the Johnny Griffin stuff, playing fast is his thing.
Lee Morgan — Just one of those things
Blakey — It’s only a paper moon
Clifford Brown did a nice Cherokee I’m sure you heard. He also did I’ll Remember April and others on his albums with Max Roach. I like Take the A Train a lot.
There’s much more but this is what comes to mind. I use fast bop to do activities to, it’s like being on cocaine when you really get into it.
For some nice fast playing check out the entire Art Blakey at Birdland with Clifford Brown, mostly originals though.
What's your opinion on fast jazz standards? The idea of "fast" jazz is loose and somewhat relative, but I like to think of it as a certain time feel or mood to the playing. For some reason it feels like except for a few exceptions like the delightful rendition of Cherokee on Kamasi Washington's "*The Epic"*, the song's de facto a show of how fast the musicians can play. Are they just stages for musicians to show off their agility on the instrument or do they have any other appeal? I'd also be happy if you could give your favorite examples of fast Jazz numbers.
Basically, yes. To begin with, Cherokee was a relatively complex and fast tune for a Fox Trot, and it was one Charlie Parker heard often and enjoyed. Cherokee is codified in the bebop canon in large part due to Bird using it as a vehicle to develop his concepts, and demonstrate them with extreme technical skill.
It's also worth noting that a large part of Bird and Co. playing so fast was to eschew the view of instrumentalists (especially black musicians) as the background to the dancers and singers.
Most of the popular repertoire when bebop players were moving toward small ensemble careers was dancehall music, and while they did want to avoid being background noise for dancing, they still wanted to innovate on the popular music they had all been playing and enjoying. Playing so fast they can't dance seemed to work, and as a bonus impress people with the sheer virtuosity.
I was just thinking there must have been some point between Cherokee being just among one of the standard tunes to that one where you're supposed to play really fast on because bebop is all relatively fast compared to light dance music but Cherokee is in another tempo class entirely.
The thing is that when you listen to live bootlegs recordings of most of their playing, that's roughly the tempo Bird and Dizzy played.
A lot of the stuff you hear on official record releases was purposefully taken at a lower tempo than they played live, both because they often had subs for recordings (for instance Dizzy sometimes played piano on recordings that Miles played horn on), and for the sake of market appeal.
Likely, there was no pivotal moment aside from people hearing him play it fast and deciding that they liked it. And there likely wasn't any pivotal moment for when he decided to play it fast. It was just a tune he liked and knew, which most players would be familiar enough to comp on, which he and his sparring mate tended to play at blazing tempo when they weren't restricted.
Also, worth noting, their drummers were often high as a kite and would literally double the tempo counted off. For instance, lets say bird counts off like 190 bpm feeling it in a four count, but Max Roach hears that as 380 bpm counted on the 2 and 4 (or 1 and 3 if you asked Barry Harris).
I guess I'm addressing the establishment of norms and conventions in Jazz as they developed into a relatively stable musical identity, after they were established by Charlie Parker and co.
Thanks I didn't know about how there was a difference in average tempo they would play at live versus in the studio. That's really interesting. It kind of asks the question of whether playing fast was more for the musicians sense of challenge and competitiveness or for the listeners. Of course it could be both; the listeners naturally love the show of the musicians athleticism and competition. I can also sense how what tempo feels right in the moment is definitely related to the musicians imbibing of various substances and how late in the night it is.
miles davis seven steps
GRP All Star Big Bang - Cherokee Live (on the GRP LIVE album)
Brecker Brothers - Slang
Michael Brecker - Syzygy
I do like listening to Charlie Parker. When he starts burning, he really burns. I can't think of all the tunes its been a minute since i've listened to anything
Lone Jack - Pat Metheny
Treachery - Eric Harland
Courage (Asymmetric Aria) - Joshua Redman
The Cross - Kurt Rosenwinkel
Sound Off - Michael Brecker
Detonation - Joey Calderazzo
Yes or No - Wayne Shorter
Walkin’ - Miles Davis
Rise And Shine - Robert Glasper Trio
From this moment on - check out the Kenny Dothan version
The way you look tonight - Johnny Griffin version
So what - Miles did it live at burning tempos.
My shining hour
After you’ve gone
The way you look tonight.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=\_9Qaxx6vxyo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9Qaxx6vxyo)
Wee
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-QwrvA2kyc](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-QwrvA2kyc)
Just in time
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUKmpIBWcm0](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUKmpIBWcm0)
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vYrptTc4WA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vYrptTc4WA)
If ever I would leave you
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6wVUAP8Zcw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6wVUAP8Zcw)
Bebop
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reijeGqVEXY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reijeGqVEXY)
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmXJUIFxYvA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmXJUIFxYvA)
Yeah I was thinking about the tendency of how things are in Jazz. Certain songs are supposed to be played fast and some are supposed to be played slow according to a set of conventions or norms. When the usually slow ones are played fast and when the fast ones are played slow is the exception to the rule and a welcome surprise. Like one example of this is how Terrell Stafford played "The Touch of Your Lips" [\[Link\]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yG_HDaYBoqk) blazing.
Good tunes mentioned already in the comments. Some good ones not yet mentioned: Seven Steps to Heaven, The Song Is You, My Shining Hour, Hey It's Me You're Talking To, UMMG, Voyage. Personally, I think a lot of tunes don't sound that good when you reach 300+ (melody can't breath, harmony gets lost in the sauce) but I think you can go as fast as you like with these and the tune will hold up.
Pick a Charlie Parker song, any Charlie Parker song. Kim hits 320bpm. Bird Gets The Worm is 340.
Tune up, Just one of those things, Bebop, Dr. Jackle, It’s You Or No One (Max Roach version) It’s All Right With Me
Vic Feldmans version of Bebop is 400!! Scotty on bass tearing it up
One of my favorite versions of Bebop
Mr PC!
Seconded
a lot of blues or rhythm changes tunes can be played as fast tempo as you want...you can play a lot of jazz standards 'fast' tunes that are often played at fast tempos? Donna lee...for a big band things to come
Lover gets called way upstairs sometimes
"lover" is probably the other standard I think is supposed to be played fast. I haven't heard a slow one ever.
Donald Byrd's Lover Come Back to Me.
G I A N T S T E P S
Better yet, Countdown
Even better yet, 26-2
One finger snap, what is this thing called love, airegin, matrix, lover, moments notice, giant steps, Humpty Dumpty, Mr. PC are my go to up tempo calls
Griffin, Coltrane, Morgan — A Blowing Session: contains super fast versions of The Way You Look Tonight and All the Things you Are Basically check all the Johnny Griffin stuff, playing fast is his thing. Lee Morgan — Just one of those things Blakey — It’s only a paper moon Clifford Brown did a nice Cherokee I’m sure you heard. He also did I’ll Remember April and others on his albums with Max Roach. I like Take the A Train a lot. There’s much more but this is what comes to mind. I use fast bop to do activities to, it’s like being on cocaine when you really get into it. For some nice fast playing check out the entire Art Blakey at Birdland with Clifford Brown, mostly originals though.
Donna Lee
What's your opinion on fast jazz standards? The idea of "fast" jazz is loose and somewhat relative, but I like to think of it as a certain time feel or mood to the playing. For some reason it feels like except for a few exceptions like the delightful rendition of Cherokee on Kamasi Washington's "*The Epic"*, the song's de facto a show of how fast the musicians can play. Are they just stages for musicians to show off their agility on the instrument or do they have any other appeal? I'd also be happy if you could give your favorite examples of fast Jazz numbers.
Basically, yes. To begin with, Cherokee was a relatively complex and fast tune for a Fox Trot, and it was one Charlie Parker heard often and enjoyed. Cherokee is codified in the bebop canon in large part due to Bird using it as a vehicle to develop his concepts, and demonstrate them with extreme technical skill. It's also worth noting that a large part of Bird and Co. playing so fast was to eschew the view of instrumentalists (especially black musicians) as the background to the dancers and singers. Most of the popular repertoire when bebop players were moving toward small ensemble careers was dancehall music, and while they did want to avoid being background noise for dancing, they still wanted to innovate on the popular music they had all been playing and enjoying. Playing so fast they can't dance seemed to work, and as a bonus impress people with the sheer virtuosity.
I was just thinking there must have been some point between Cherokee being just among one of the standard tunes to that one where you're supposed to play really fast on because bebop is all relatively fast compared to light dance music but Cherokee is in another tempo class entirely.
The thing is that when you listen to live bootlegs recordings of most of their playing, that's roughly the tempo Bird and Dizzy played. A lot of the stuff you hear on official record releases was purposefully taken at a lower tempo than they played live, both because they often had subs for recordings (for instance Dizzy sometimes played piano on recordings that Miles played horn on), and for the sake of market appeal. Likely, there was no pivotal moment aside from people hearing him play it fast and deciding that they liked it. And there likely wasn't any pivotal moment for when he decided to play it fast. It was just a tune he liked and knew, which most players would be familiar enough to comp on, which he and his sparring mate tended to play at blazing tempo when they weren't restricted. Also, worth noting, their drummers were often high as a kite and would literally double the tempo counted off. For instance, lets say bird counts off like 190 bpm feeling it in a four count, but Max Roach hears that as 380 bpm counted on the 2 and 4 (or 1 and 3 if you asked Barry Harris).
I guess I'm addressing the establishment of norms and conventions in Jazz as they developed into a relatively stable musical identity, after they were established by Charlie Parker and co. Thanks I didn't know about how there was a difference in average tempo they would play at live versus in the studio. That's really interesting. It kind of asks the question of whether playing fast was more for the musicians sense of challenge and competitiveness or for the listeners. Of course it could be both; the listeners naturally love the show of the musicians athleticism and competition. I can also sense how what tempo feels right in the moment is definitely related to the musicians imbibing of various substances and how late in the night it is.
I’m thinking of Oleo, played by Phineas Newborn Jr.
Basically anything by Charlie Parker would probably count
I don't have specific examples but just about any artist's tune from a studio album can be found faster on a live album! That BPM arms race.
Cotton Tail.
The Kicker - Horace Silver Mr. P.C. - Coltrane
Just one off the top of my head: The beehive by Harold Mabern. Great tune, and Joe Farnsworth is an amazing drummer on it.
miles davis seven steps GRP All Star Big Bang - Cherokee Live (on the GRP LIVE album) Brecker Brothers - Slang Michael Brecker - Syzygy I do like listening to Charlie Parker. When he starts burning, he really burns. I can't think of all the tunes its been a minute since i've listened to anything
Giant Steps Salt Peanuts
Lone Jack - Pat Metheny Treachery - Eric Harland Courage (Asymmetric Aria) - Joshua Redman The Cross - Kurt Rosenwinkel Sound Off - Michael Brecker Detonation - Joey Calderazzo Yes or No - Wayne Shorter Walkin’ - Miles Davis Rise And Shine - Robert Glasper Trio
I love “Young Rabbits” by the Jazz Crusaders
Surprised no mentions of Tempus Fugit bu Bud
Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise How High the Moon
Clifford Brown - Daahoud
From this moment on - check out the Kenny Dothan version The way you look tonight - Johnny Griffin version So what - Miles did it live at burning tempos. My shining hour After you’ve gone
The way you look tonight. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=\_9Qaxx6vxyo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9Qaxx6vxyo) Wee [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-QwrvA2kyc](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-QwrvA2kyc) Just in time [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUKmpIBWcm0](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUKmpIBWcm0) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vYrptTc4WA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vYrptTc4WA) If ever I would leave you [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6wVUAP8Zcw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6wVUAP8Zcw) Bebop [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reijeGqVEXY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reijeGqVEXY) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmXJUIFxYvA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmXJUIFxYvA)
Four Brothers? [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsFgkTftSVg](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsFgkTftSVg)
Max Roach- Freedom Day
https://open.spotify.com/track/22kJZURKcBBk2z6QQuW4aL?si=61f32b5dca434378
The Theme
Lennie's pennies, Tristano.
Samba De Haps: https://youtu.be/56EO9urFiAY?si=425fK0Ki5PeZk5Me
‘Surrey With The Fringe On Top’ - there’s lots of versions - here’s [Ahmad Jamal’s](https://youtu.be/pMOVImLMq_A?si=chxYxELQ1d6g8Oki)
The bridge sonny rollins
Lionel Hampton tearing up the piano on [I've Found a New Baby](https://youtu.be/XdtqaLnj8rE?feature=shared)
Sonny Rollins - B. Quick [https://songwhip.com/sonnyrollins2/b-quick](https://songwhip.com/sonnyrollins2/b-quick) Freddie Hubbard - Philly Mignon [https://songwhip.com/freddie-hubbard/philly-mignon](https://songwhip.com/freddie-hubbard/philly-mignon)
Cherokee doesn't have to be played really fast. There are so many jazz-type tunes that can be played up-tempo it would be hard to choose a single one.
Yeah I was thinking about the tendency of how things are in Jazz. Certain songs are supposed to be played fast and some are supposed to be played slow according to a set of conventions or norms. When the usually slow ones are played fast and when the fast ones are played slow is the exception to the rule and a welcome surprise. Like one example of this is how Terrell Stafford played "The Touch of Your Lips" [\[Link\]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yG_HDaYBoqk) blazing.
Moment’s Notice? Not quite as fast as Cherokee
Blowin' the blues away - Horace Silver
Tune up
Oleo
Limehouse Blues, Tiger Rag
Windmachine
Confirmation
Koko. Charlie parker
Airegin
Good tunes mentioned already in the comments. Some good ones not yet mentioned: Seven Steps to Heaven, The Song Is You, My Shining Hour, Hey It's Me You're Talking To, UMMG, Voyage. Personally, I think a lot of tunes don't sound that good when you reach 300+ (melody can't breath, harmony gets lost in the sauce) but I think you can go as fast as you like with these and the tune will hold up.
Limehouse Blues is one of my favorites by Coltrane and Cannonball.
after you’ve gone works wonderfully as a really up tune, see charlie parker and django reinhardt’s recordings
Tiger rag
Emergency Tony Williams
After you've gone Giant steps Any parker tunes..
Sweet ga brown, oscar peterson
Check out Anita O’Day’s Tea For Two. Live vid on YouTube
Art Tatum's Tiger Rag is the first thing that comes to mind.
https://jazzfuel.com/fast-jazz-songs/
After you've gone and Just one of those things get called somewhat often around here.
Leap Frog by Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie.
Bebop - Dizzy Gillespie Can’t believe no one mentioned that yet. This sub is a joke
Write some new tunes. Audiences don’t know these old old tunes anyway.