Hi guys,

I'm helping out a friend who's gonna have an outdoor/summer party in Mid/late August.

I can play a pretty wide-range of stuff from Mainstream Jazz to Top 40 stuff. Much easier if I just play the keyboard along with the band, but this time this will be the set up: We'll have a drummer (he's good. Plays in various local clubs), possibly a guitarist/vocalist which we haven't found yet, and myself with my Keyboard. I'll have to probably depend on my Triton's sequencer for the bass and probably some fillers like one or two tracks and everybody else play along with it.

Now- Can anybody perhaps help me out with what kind of songs I should go with? I need some pretty simple but upbeat (and mixed with some mid/slow tempo). So far I have (the ones that I can actually play):

1. Just the two of us (Gr.Washington)
2. Just the way you are
3. Field of Golds

I need some good/easy listening blues songs also...but i'm open to any other songs too.

It's going to be about 15-25 songs.

I'll try to post my stuff somehow (haven't got the time/means to do so).

What is the age range of the audience. If you know that, selecting the songs is easy.

Cheers,

Gary

Hi Gary,

Age range would be late 20s to late 30s...so the kind that pretty much listens to a variety of music. But I think we don't want "cheesy" stuff like the 80's disco like "material girl" or anything like that. But Blues, R&B, Reggae, Jazz should do.

Can't help you with this one. That's the loud, loud and louder age group that wants hip-hop, acid rock and things that I just don't do. I'll leave this one for the younger guys and gals on the forum.

Good Luck,

Gary

KN_fAN,
If you're playing the 20's and 30's group I think jazz, blues, R&B, and Reggae should be fine. You can of course do some hip hop if you like, but that can get tricky too.. If you do hip hop I'd suggest adding your own twist to it or something.. I know a group here who take hip hop songs and make awsome jazz pieces from them. Also if you choose any hip hop songs and play them as written, I'd suggest a really good singer too.. Crowds can be rather cruel if you don't have that "flow" when singing hip hop.. A good example is I heard this girl the other day try to sing Alicia Keys song Fallin.... She didn't get past the first verse before people were making jokes.. She did have a good voice, but it wasn't suited for hip hop..

Squeak

[This message has been edited by squeak_D (edited 04-29-2003).]

[This message has been edited by squeak_D (edited 04-29-2003).]

Might I suggest:
Can't Help Falling In Love (UB40 reggae style)
Follow Me (Uncle Cracker)
Before You Accuse Me (Clapton style) - great with the Blues sty. from Korg iX300
Smooth (Santana)
Don't Know Why (Norah Jones)
Gonna Getcha Good (Shania Twain)

You might want to scour www.musicrobot.com for some MIDI files

------------------
Cass Pawlowski
Detroit, MI
PSR2000, Roland SC88
Cakewalk, Sonar, Power Tracks, BIAB

Jonas (KN_Fan): In addition to the songs already listed, here are some other song suggestions:

Moondance (Van Morrison)
Red Red Wine (UB40)
I'm a Believer (the Monkees & more recently, from the movie Shrek)
Honky Tonk Woman (Stones)
Under the Boardwalk (Reggae style)
Tears in Heaven (Clapton)

Another successful technique I use for younger audiences is to update older pop standards with a more contemporary groove. For example on the classic early 60's song "More", instead of utilizing the expected traditional 'swing' or 'latin' style, I'll play it with a contemporary funky pop style instead, with vocal harmonizer, and add funky keyboard fills & solos set to a 'stacked elec piano' voice. Very well received and gets the under 30 crowd on the dance floor.

The converse, of taking a contemporary pop song, and performing it in an older retro style (swing, latin, classic R&B) is another thing which can work as well. I find that, though audiences like to hear songs in the style they recognize, they most appreciate hearing fresh original renditions (if its good of course), which will set you apart from all the karaoke style imitators out there, and insure future bookings & client referals.

The great thing about arranger keyboards is that they give us the opportunity to experiment with different styles. While I'll sometimes play a song in the style the original hit was performed (recognized), I find 'mixing it up' with fresh contemporary renditions works best.

Scott

Hey Scott, we meet again. (SVPWorld) Your suggestions are right on.

KN_Fan, you can't miss with:
Brown-Eyed Girl
Margaritaville
Dancing In the Streets
My Girl/ My Guy (back-to-back)
The Way You Do the Things You Do

Thanks guys for all your replies.

It's true- Singer is really important. For a definite amateur, I think I can impress some of unexpecting friends, but in front of 50-75 strangers/co-workers (the size of the 'unpaid' gig)....I'm not so sure.

I don't think anybody there are into Hip-Hop (when I think hip hop, I'm thinking Janet Jackson...was I mistaken?)

One more thing- There's one song from Shania Twain that I only know this part when she shings.."aaoouuuuu...naa.naa.naa..naa.naa..na.naaaa..." (along with the singers at the end). I can't get that part out of my head but I've searched high and low but can't find it anywhere.

I use the Hip-Hop arranger preset on my Yamaha 9000 Pro for a funky version of "Fly Like An Eagle" that goes over well with young people.