Is it legitimate to use non-Hank tunes?

Here's one for Shads club members.
How legitimate is it to use non-Hank tunes?
We have a couple of players at our Surrey club who produce some delightful renditions of old classic and popular tunes using BTs from the web - and play the lead as HBM would.
I would consider myself a Hank purist. For me, adding extra notes or tremolo waggles that aren't in the original is a no no. But that only applies to stuff of Hank's that you are copying and want to sound exactly like the original. But there's something about putting your own HBM style on different numbers that definitely appeals. Personally I think this is OK and perfectly legit. Although the Shadows canon is extensive, there are many tunes that are either beyond your average player or are just not exciting enough. Even on HBM's solo albums he has covered many super songs but some of them just don't appeal (to me anyway). And there are only so many times you can play Wonderful Land etc.
Inspired by those couple of our players who have followed this route, I have just found a lovely simple backing track to Danny Boy (Same one that Gary uses on the TVS Jukebox) and I have worked out how I think HBM would play it. Trouble is, I didn't think the chorus was dramatic enough so I added a fuzz box and play that bit a la Gary Moore ( A bit like Ecca has done in his Danny Boy video) and I really really like it. I have played it over the phone to a couple of club members and they have said to go for it. So I am going to give it to a go at our next club night.
So here I am, running a Shads club and about to play a number that the Shads never recorded and worse, contains two Gary Moore type choruses.
Can I get away with it?
What do other club members think?
John Boulden
How legitimate is it to use non-Hank tunes?
We have a couple of players at our Surrey club who produce some delightful renditions of old classic and popular tunes using BTs from the web - and play the lead as HBM would.
I would consider myself a Hank purist. For me, adding extra notes or tremolo waggles that aren't in the original is a no no. But that only applies to stuff of Hank's that you are copying and want to sound exactly like the original. But there's something about putting your own HBM style on different numbers that definitely appeals. Personally I think this is OK and perfectly legit. Although the Shadows canon is extensive, there are many tunes that are either beyond your average player or are just not exciting enough. Even on HBM's solo albums he has covered many super songs but some of them just don't appeal (to me anyway). And there are only so many times you can play Wonderful Land etc.
Inspired by those couple of our players who have followed this route, I have just found a lovely simple backing track to Danny Boy (Same one that Gary uses on the TVS Jukebox) and I have worked out how I think HBM would play it. Trouble is, I didn't think the chorus was dramatic enough so I added a fuzz box and play that bit a la Gary Moore ( A bit like Ecca has done in his Danny Boy video) and I really really like it. I have played it over the phone to a couple of club members and they have said to go for it. So I am going to give it to a go at our next club night.
So here I am, running a Shads club and about to play a number that the Shads never recorded and worse, contains two Gary Moore type choruses.
Can I get away with it?
What do other club members think?
John Boulden