The first tune on my Solo Jazz Guitar Standards, Vol. 1 disc is Gershwin’s “I Got Rhythm”. Who could ask for anything more? :)

http://cdbaby.com/cd/schlegel8

I did a lesson for Gibson using part of this tune to explain jazz guitar:

http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Lessons/InstrumentLessons/Jazz-Guitar-Chord-Style-621/

In that video you can see the mental process that goes into my arrangement of the tune. In these videos you can see me trying out a couple more ideas in a live setting. I played the tune two times at this gig, once at the end of each set.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZ4yWVWtojA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxA2xW8FE30

Gershwin’s tune is the quintessential tune for a jazz cat to learn the craft, to woodshed. charlie Parker and all the other jazz shredders honed their chops by soloing over Gershwin’s legendary tune. In fact, the chord changes in the bridge of “I Got Rhythm” are so fundamental to jazz and jazz improvisation that they are known as “Rhythm changes”. And every jazz player is expected to know and be able to competently solo over “Rhythm Changes”. It’s just a simple circle of fifths motion back to the home key (III – VI – II – V – I). But Gershwin’s song is the gold standard by which jazz musicians “measure” it! Enjoy!