Jazz

I came to jazz fairly late in life. I appreciate all but the smoothest genres of jazz, but I have focused my own playing on classic standards. This is largely a consequence of the gradual introduction of swing dancing within contra dance circles. In the 1980s it became increasingly common to include in a swing dance or two among the squares and contras. Weekend-long dance workshops, or week-long dance camps often had swing dance segments.

As you might guess, then, the melody instrument I am most likely to accompany is the fiddle, or violin, as it is more commonly referred to in the jazz context. This in turn suggests that the tunes are usually rendered in the key of C or one of the sharp keys, and occasionally F (one flat). This is because most fiddle music is in those keys, which in turn is because there are more opportunities for open strings, thus stabilizing the intonation.

But I digress. The repertoire works very well for weddings and other social gatherings, it is recognizable to a broader audience than contra dance music, and it is very much fun to play. My current jazz partner is usually Carey Bluhm on violin, and if the budget facilitates a larger sound, we can add a bass player and even percussion.
 

Sample Repertoire

After You've Gone All of Me Am I Blue Autumn Leaves Do You know What it Means, to Miss New Orleans Don't Get Around Much Anymore Georgia I Can't Get Started I Can't Give You Anything But Love   I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Right Myself a Letter Lady Be Good Paper Moon Please Don't Talk About Me When I've Gone Satin Doll Sentimental Journey Somewhere Over the Rainbow Sunny Side of the Street Sweet Georgia Brown Undecided