Have You Met Miss Jones?

Have You Met Miss Jones? 

Jazz standard, published in 1937.

Originally written for a musical comedy.

Music written by Richard Rodgers with lyrics by Lorenz Hart

Many interesting chord changes. 

A favourite piece for jazz improvisations.
Wiki entry here.

Chorinho

Chorinho

By American jazz pianist Lyle Mays.
Catchy moto perpetuo riffs
with energetic Brazilian rhythm.

Interesting chord changes.
Lots of tricky syncopation.

Lyle Mays - Piano/Jazz Quartet
By the composer himself.
Amazing technique and mastery of touch.
Very creative improvisation of riffs.

Billie's Bounce

Billie's Bounce

Jazz standard with blues progression.

Written by Charlie Parker in 1945.

Wiki entry here.

Le Cygne (The Swan)

Le Cygne

(The Swan)

Beautiful cello solo with lyrical melody. 

The second last movement of the Carnival of Animals Suite (1886) by Saint-Saens. 

Popular as a stand-alone piece.

Transcribed into many different versions with different instrumentation.

Wiki link here. 

Spring Festival Overture

(This post is part of a series in conjunction with Chinese New Year 2017)

Spring Festival Overture

Energetic overture of the Spring Festival Suite for Orchestra.
Composed by Li Huanzhi.

Popular during Chinese New Year.

Catchy pentatonic melodies played at an exciting pace.
Interesting harmonization and chord substitution.
Wiki entry here.

He Xin Nian (贺新年)

(This post is part of a series in conjunction with Chinese New Year 2017)

He Xin Nian

(贺新年)

Title translates to
"New Year Wishes".

A Chinese New year favourite.
Lively melody with interesting harmonization possibilities.
A surprise to discover that this song was around as long as 70 years ago.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Happy Chinese New Year!