Making something sound "jazzy"

[jamie_liszt]

I am looking to be a pianist at any events like parties/weddings/restaurants/bars etc. and I was doing some searching for websites of restaurant pianists and found this guy: https://simongalfe.co.uk/music/ Alot of his stuff sounds jazz'd up a little Sounds way more professional how he plays it. I have been looking for sheet music of things like Sinatra, Beatles, Elton John, Don Mclean, carpenters, Coldplay, alot of stuff restaurant pianists would play. But the modern sheets available don't really sound professional, alot of them sound boring and to easy to play, I want to make them sound more fuller and make them sound jazz, how do you do this? is it a matter of chord choice? rhythm?

Or does anyone have any sheet music arrangements of stuff like this?

Any help would be appreciated.

[Bob]

My understanding is that jazz pianists have their own style (chord voicing, etc.) and add their style to another piece.  Which would mean you have to do it yourself.

I have seen a few written out jazz arrangements though.  Jim Brickman writes out some of his own stuff.  (I think) There is a also a series by Steinway (I think) that gives you the original piano version and then a jazzed up version -- I know there are four volumes of that set.

[krimi]

Sound something jazzy = improvisation. The sheets are helpful but they are only the framework you have to fill with life. Thus, you have to learn scales, scales, and - right - scales. Very helpful is here the Jazz piano book by Mark Levine (there are, of course, rules for improvisation). Learning by listening is also important. So, search for a pianist you like and then study and reproduce his/her style to learn good patterns.
 

[jamie_liszt]

Yeh, Improvisation has always been my weak point, along with sight reading. In all of my 9 years of playing piano I have always learnt pieces exactly off sheet music. All types of jazz piano is completely opposite to what Ive always done so that explains it. I know I must suck if I can't sit down and improvise anything, Its impossible for me to sit down at my chosen instrument and improvise anything, Thanks. I will take a look at that book, I think learning this stuff will be helpful for the future for me.

[krimi]

I know what you mean - I hate it when my teacher give me homework like "here is the basic melody, please improvise  " The problem is that many people suppose that improvisation is something you can when you can find the keys on a piano. But it is a totally different piano playing and it needs practice as well (I do not believe that good improvisation appears from nowhere). So, when you start the result might be boring but dont give up!