what pieces are good for background music in a fancy bar?

[peekabo]

I have been given the opportunity to play in a big fancy bar,its like an outdoor atrium, and i am stuck on what sort of pieces to play! i know the sort of mood im looking for but im looking for more pieces which i could learn and play 

any suggestions??
I would be v. greatful thanks!!

[richard black]

I tend to arm myself for gigs like that with one of those huge books called something like 'The 100 greatest classical piano solos' - you'll find popular and not-too-taxing pieces by Chopin, Debussy and all the other usual suspects. And perhaps a volume of Scott Joplin and a book or two of songs by Cole Porter of Gershwin - most of those work perfectly well as piano solos and the voice part is usually incorporated in the printed piano line anyway.

[peekabo]

thanks v. much! 

[communist]

if theres a bar fight than Chopin etude op.10 no.4 or Rachmaninoff prelude op.23 no.5

[frigo]

Eric Satie's gymnopedies and gnossienes, the waltz 'je te veux', and others, are very beautifull and recomended as they are a very early european kind of jazz. i would choose Satie.

[pianisten1989]

if theres a bar fight than Chopin etude op.10 no.4 or Rachmaninoff prelude op.23 no.5

Nooo! Maple leaf rag would be so much more fun to play during a fight

[cmg]

No, play anything by Finnissy.  That'll start fights with or without a bar.

[pianowolfi]

During a fight you may play "Moon River", "Summertime" or "As Time Goes by".
Or "Memory" Or "Bridge over troubled water" (All of these being bar standards anyway btw ) But don't go too far with it as you might take the risk to get shot by someone (which would be the opportunity to play "Moonlight Shadow" or "once upon a time in the west" if you have a harmonica at hand...)

But seriously, I have a  book which is called "The Bumper Book of Film Music" (International Music Publications 1987, Edited by Peter Foss, ISBN 0 86359 528 6) google it or try to get it from Amazon, it's a great source for bar piano music 

And, well, no experienced bar pianist plays the music "as it's written" (except classical pieces). The trick is to variate, ornament, it's about how you can be creative with the score, adding chords, arpeggios, grace notes etc.)

[00range]

No, play anything by Finnissy.  That'll start fights with or without a bar.

A touch! I do declare a touch!

[peekabo]

lol thanks for all the great ideas,but i don't think i want to get shot or be in the middle of a fight thanks! lol