Comments on: Creating a Repertoire List

By: David J. Hahn

David J. Hahn — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:59:49 +0000

Yeah man, looks like a good list!

By: Brendan

Brendan — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:00:35 +0000

This is tremendously helpful for a jazz studies graduate like myself, who is finding that it won’t cut it to have all your jazz/bebop chops down if you are unable to play other styles convincingly (for example, being able to do rhythmic “funk” type guitar). I’m just wondering if I’m on the right track with some of the songs I’m adding to my own repertoire list. I’m starting to learn songs like:

Ain’t Too Proud To Beg, My Girl – Temptations
Breezin’ – George Benson
Three Little Birds, Is This Love – Bob Marley
Girl From Ipanema, Desafinado – Jobim
People Make the World Go Round – Stylistics
Trying to Make a Fool of Me – Delfonics
I Feel Good, Sex Machine – James Brown
Celebration – Kool & the Gang
and some progressive rock like King Crimson in the 70′s.

Am I on the right track, or am I way out in left field with these? I’m just not sure if these are the type of tunes I should be working on in preparation for a cruise ship gig or audition.

In addition to this, I have a list of very common jazz tunes I’m still working on. It includes pieces such as Like Someone In Love, You’d Be So Nice, and some other standards, but it also has a lot of jazz instrumental/bebop tunes. I hate to put the jazz stuff on the back burner, but as a guitarist who isn’t too well-versed in more commercial music, I’m assuming that’s what I need to do? Will much reggae music be played on a cruise ship? I’m working on playing in that style, especially listening a lot to guitarist Al Anderson. Thanks for any input! I’m hoping to get better at reading/playing in other styles so that I can audition on guitar for an orchestra slot in a year (hopefully!).

By: David J. Hahn

David J. Hahn — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 06:17:39 +0000

Hi David – glad you dig the site, thanks.

Tough question. What is the theme of the lounge? Party band? Swinging standards? Classical trio?

By: David Smith

David Smith — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:16:10 +0000

Hello,

Thank you for your blog, I really appreciate the information as it pertains to cruise ship repertoire list. I am interested in putting together a lounge group. I am currently Bandmaster for the celebrity summit, and was thinking about changing roles so I have more liberty as to what the group plays. I would really appreciate your input as to what would be a perfect list of “prototype tunes” for any cruise lounge??

David Smith

By: Elyse Louise

Elyse Louise — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:40:31 +0000

Your suggestion to keep a repertoire list was helpful. Thanks for the great article.

By: William

William — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:58:25 +0000

this article is good, lately I have been doing gigs and have been having trouble coming up with tunes to play even though I know them I just have a hard time coming up with them.

By: Humberto Dantas

Humberto Dantas — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:44:13 +0000

That´s a great text. Exactly what I was looking for. I´m a brazilian singer and Piano/keyboardist planning to spend some time working on a ship and this info is very helpful. Thanks David!

By: alan

alan — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 03:03:24 +0000

thanks for the info. im planning on doing my 1st cruise gig and was wondering what might be expected of me.I know to work, really work, as a musician sometimes you have to cover all the bases and do things u might not do as an “artsist”. Im hoping it will be a good experience.