I was curious about the tunes in guitarist John Stowell’s CD Swan Tones, Volume 1. so I asked him about those that he based on the harmonic structures of standard songs. Here is his reply:
“Wiil We Be One?” is based on “You and The Night and the Music” (second line of the lyric)
“Hot Flash” is an original
“A Tropical Breeze”is based on “St Thomas” (also a line from the lyric)
“Gabriel’s Fall” is based on “Falling Grace”: by Steve Swallow
“When Is He Coming?”i s based on “Someday My Prince Will Come”
“What Month Is This?” is based on “I’ll Remember April”
“We’re Going Now, Toto” is based on “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”
“Silver Wish” is based on “Peace” by Horace Silver
“The River Is Near” is a free improvisation (luthier Jim Soloway’s house is on the Columbia, where the CD was recorded)
“Ginger’s Dance” is an original
“Jerome’s Things” is based on “All the Things You Are”
“Tom’s Road” is based on “Caminhos Cruzados (roads crossing) by Jobim. I’m sure you know that Jobim’s nickname was Tom
I found that knowing the original tunes made hearing my improvisations a bit more pleasant to listen to.







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