Me and a few friends are starting up a at home jazz band deal.
Nothing major: three or four people including myself.

I was trying to think of some music that would sound good with a smaller group.

Anyone have any ideas?

What's your set-up?
How many songs?

The Great thing about Jazz, is that you can more or less have any size Band.  I  used to be in a five-piece
Drums, Bass, Guitar, Sax, & percussion. I used to Solo with just Bass & Drums, I learnt a lot, it improved my playing. From memory here are some of the Standards we did.

So What - Miles Daivis
Watermelon Man - Herbie Hancock
Blue Monk - Blue monk
The Girl from Ipenima - (dont know the composer)
Misty
St Thomas - Sonny Rollins (lovely melody)
Fly me to The Moon
Summertime
Giant Steps - John Coltrane (VERY Challenging)
A Night in Tunisia - Dizzy Gilespy
My Favourite Things - I love that tune
Work Song -

All we know for sure is that we'll have a tenor sax. We're still debating who's going to do what.

We're looking for an infinite set, from what I'm gathering. It's just something we're just messing around with.

For example, you can't really play a Chuck Mangione piece with only three people. Can't quite happen. And possibly a few Sinatra tunes wouldn't sound great with only three people.

Half of these I think is doable. I actually think the two Coltrane pieces would be good. Agreed, that Giant Steps would be difficult, but it'd sound really good in a small set-up.

I appreciate it Denis. :]

Hmm, so long as the Melody is Nice, it really don't matter the size of the band, trust me!!
It will be interesting to see how you develop, keep us posted

Here are LOADS

http://www.enerjazz.com/jazztech/ujf.htm

Mile Davis - Tune Up
Mile Davis - Green Dolphin Street
Herbie Hancock - Canteloupe Island
Luis Salinas - Latin Beeboop

Those are the ones I like the most.
I could check the folder from my guitar lessons to remember some nice ones.
BTW, I have a PDF file with The Real Book, in case you want it. That's really really handy for start playing jazz.

             > Iszil

All of those were a fantastic help.
Can't say I don't have anything to choose from. :P

@Iszil: That would be great. Starting back to the basics is the only way to get better!

LOL... I would love to here you play one of my compositions??
I'm hopless at notations, but I know all the chords, mind you X-Factor is pretty good I think? 

I'm sure if we got the chords, we could work something out. :]

The file is 50mb, so it's impossible to send it via mail.
Although, I can send it by Skype or MSN or anything like that. I would take ages as my Internet is really bad, but I can do it if you want it.
Just PM me guys.

             > Iszil

COOOOL
When you've set-up the band let me know, I've also got a hard copy of an issue of 'The Jazz fake book', it's got something like 600 songs, so I could scan a particular song and send it to you, Iszils PDF sounds interesting, I found that there loads of versions of it, each having a different directory. Never-the-less, loads of choices!!

I'm going to upload the Real Book, so then you can download it.

             > Iszil

a sax doesnt need a band, same for piano or guitar
but if you really want to buildup a jazz group I'd suggest following

drums
bass
piano or guitar
----------- up to here it's a classical jazz trio
any lead instrument i.e. saxophone
----------- from now on it has an orchestra or big band style

you can play every song you know. arrange them with some nice jazzy chords and rhythms and a cool lead melody.
even it's a christmas song you can play it jazzy. go for it... great idea

A big thank you to everyone!

That would be extremely helpful. :]
Anytime you have to do it is just fine to me.


I think the final verdict will be me on guitar, or trombone if I can find the thing.
We have a tenor sax for sure, and I believe this one girl is going to do drums.

Sounds about right?

Just PM me the songs you want, it's no problem