Somewhere Over the Rainbow

[mulderxcoltrane]

HI everyone,

This is one of my all-time favorite melodies; I've been listening to Art Pepper's cover of it.

Anyone want to recommend their favorite jazz cover of the tune?

- MXC

[Alypius]

The greatest version I know is not a jazz one, but one by Hawaiian singer, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole (known as "Iz"). He accompanies himself on ukelele and blends it into a medley with "What a Wonderful World." (He tragically died at a young age -- he struggled terribly with his weight). The great jazz guitarist, Bill Frisell, used this version when he did the soundtrack for the movie Finding Forester -- the rest of the soundtrack draws on Miles Davis' Bitches Brew and Ornette Coleman. Here's a YouTube of Iz singing it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1bFr2SWP1I

If you have never heard this before, you'll be dazzled.

[Doghouse Riley]

Originally Posted by Alypius

The greatest version I know is not a jazz one, but one by Hawaiian singer, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole (known as "Iz"). He accompanies himself on ukelele and blends it into a medley with "What a Wonderful World." (He tragically died at a young age -- he struggled terribly with his weight). The great jazz guitarist, Bill Frisell, used this version when he did the soundtrack for the movie Finding Forester -- the rest of the soundtrack draws on Miles Davis' Bitches Brew and Ornette Coleman. Here's a YouTube of Iz singing it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1bFr2SWP1I

If you have never heard this before, you'll be dazzled.

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's version is well known and has had many millions of hits on YouTube.
There was a documentary on him on UK TV a few years ago.

My favourite version of this tune is by Ben Webster.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rX0l0RFB4A

[Justin V]

This version has Zoot Sims on soprano.

[Richard Leigh]

Try the Max Roach/Clifford Brown group, with Rollins, playing "Valse Hot" - Roach's waltz based on the chords of the tune. I think that this group is one of the greatest in jazz, with a very interesting and unusual repertoire and two of the music's best-ever improvisers.

[jazz oud]

My favorite is Keith Jarrett from "La Scala". I absolutely detest the ukelele version listed above, it has the wrong chords, wrong melody, and wrong lyrics. It might be okay if the original wasn't such a masterpiece.

[HutchFan]

For me, it's hard to imagine better performances than Pepper's. When it comes to jazz interpretations, I associate "Over the Rainbow" with him.

I really like his version on Ballads by Five -- but I LOVE Pepper's duet with George Cables on Tête-à-Tête.

[Buddha]

There's a great version on Solo- Live in New York by the incomparable Chucho Valdez

[tpt1]

I like Jeff Beck's version.

[Fran]

Charlie Barnet's on Capitol