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Hello. My wife and I are expecting our first baby in May.

I'd like to pick up a book of lullabies, but I want to get something that is a little challenging and fun for me to play. Something with a jazz feel would be great.

Anyone ever run across a good book for lullabies? Thanks for any feedback.

Mark

No general knowledge of lullabies here, LuanFish, other than the Brahms, but it occurred to me that at least partsof "Waltz For Debby", by Bill Evans might fit the bill.

Again, just off the top of the head, the first cantabile part of Chopin Etude Op10 #3 might be good too.

I don't know how well you read either sheet music or lead sheets, but there are a LOT of "jazz standard ballad types" that might fit here. Maybe you could grab a fake book and pick or modify the ones you liked best.

April in Paris
Foggy Day
Call me Irresponsible
Stars Fell on Alabama
Embraceable You
Georgia On My Mind (a low octane version)
It Had to be You

Well, there are plenty more,( Misty ? ) that are soothing and I don't want to give away to many of my secrets to any profilers that might be lurking out there, but all the songs I listed put me to sleep almost immediately.

Got a name chosen yet?
If it's Danny, boy have I got a song for YOU!
.... I'd go easy on the bagpipe cadenza though, at least for the first 3 or 4 months.

Well, this isn't really answering the question you asked, but since the lullabies should grab the parents as well as the baby, I just thought you might consider utilizing songs that already have meaning to you.

Good Luck with BOTH these projects,
Bob

Guilty
La vie en rose

Very sweet melodies !

I'm working on "A Little Jazz Waltz" in a book by Bill Boyd - recommended by another member of this board (I forget his screen name). It's got a nice quiet feel to it.

I have the mp3 file of the piece but I don't know how to attach it to this email.

Bob

There's 'Lullaby of Birdland'. Also Fats Waller's 'Jitterbug Waltz'..... my memory's deserted me!

Alan

thanks for the replies.

i'll check out some of these. thanks again.

Mark

It's more like ragtime, but check out Gershwin's "Lullaby," arranged by Alicia Zizzo.

My Little Buckaroo. It's in The Great Looney Tunes Songbook.
When It's Sleepy Time Down South.
Two Sleepy People.
Goodnight, My Someone.
Summertime, from Porgy and Bess.

Try playing My Foolish Heart. Listen to the Bill Evans version

A Child is Born by Thad Jones is a good one.