Jazz Solos in Pop Songs
I knew that Freddie Hubbard played the trumpet solo in Billy Joel's "Zanzibar". And it is a killer.
But just found out that Phil Woods is responsible for the silky (or over-the-top, take your pick) sax work in "Just the Way You Are.".
Which led me to the knowledge that Woods also soloed on Steely Dan's "Dr. Wu," for which I cannot find a suitable video. But it's a great song.
Listening to "Zanzibar" for the first time in possibly decades, I was struck by the lyric, "Rose, he knows he's such a credit to the game / But the Yankees grab the headlines every time." Those were the days back in 1978, when Pete Rose actually was a credit to the game!
But just found out that Phil Woods is responsible for the silky (or over-the-top, take your pick) sax work in "Just the Way You Are.".
Which led me to the knowledge that Woods also soloed on Steely Dan's "Dr. Wu," for which I cannot find a suitable video. But it's a great song.
Listening to "Zanzibar" for the first time in possibly decades, I was struck by the lyric, "Rose, he knows he's such a credit to the game / But the Yankees grab the headlines every time." Those were the days back in 1978, when Pete Rose actually was a credit to the game!
Comments
Wayne Shorter/Steely Dan "Aja" (The Dan could be a topic unto their self)
Don Cherry/Lou Reed "The Bells" (album) Don't know if you'd consider that pop...
Sonny Rollins did the solo in the Stones' "Waiting on a Friend." [edit: CaptainWrong beat me to it]
And he's not jazz, but I just found out recently that Junior Walker did the sax solo in Foreigner's "Urgent." I've heard that song a million times over the years but never knew the sax player was Junior Walker.
Hugh Masakela on "So You Wanna Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star."