Tag: 1930s

Ella Fitzgerald | What’s New

JazzStandards.com reports that “What’s New,” a classic standard, was written by Bob Haggart with lyrics by Johnny Burke. “In an era when cute and romantic had given way to urbane, Burke devised a clever gimmick to tell a love story: casual conversational lyrics telling only one side of the conversation. The result was ‘What’s New?’ … introduced by Bob Crosby and His Orchestra with vocalist Teddy Grace in 1939, (it reached) number ten on the pop charts.

“Recognized worldwide as “The First Lady of Song,” AllMusic reports, “Ella Fitzgerald is arguably the finest female jazz vocalist of all time. Blessed with a highly resonant voice, wide range, and near-perfect elocution, Fitzgerald also possessed a deft sense of swing, and with her brilliant scat technique, could hold her own against any of her instrumental contemporaries. Over her 50-year career, she earned 13 Grammy Awards, sold over 40 million albums, and picked up numerous accolades including a National Medal of Arts and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. A hugely important cultural figure, Fitzgerald made an immeasurable impact on the development of jazz and popular music, and remains a touchstone for fans and artists decades after her passing.”

The bridge, normally a ‘B section,’ is simply the same tune and chord progression with some slight melodic alteration in the last two measures (an A1/A1/A2/A1 form). The A2 section modulates up a perfect fourth. Ella’s version here starts in F major and jumps up to Bb major (0:54 – 1:21).

The Artie Shaw Orchestra | All the Things You Are

“All the Things You Are,” a now-classic jazz standard composed by Jerome Kern with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein, was originally written for the musical Very Warm for May (1939). It later appeared in the film Broadway Rhythm (1944).

The tune is known for its wide-ranging harmonies, which transiently meander quite far from the original key during most of the tune (other than the beginning and ending bars of the form). But this particular version by The Artie Shaw Orchestra (Helen Forrest, vocalist) also features several outright key changes. Starting in A minor, the key shifts to D minor as the vocal melody leads us through the form (1:28), the final instrumental section starts in Bb minor (2:45) and ends in Db major.

Duke Ellington | In a Sentimental Mood

Duke Ellington’s ballad “In a Sentimental Mood” (1935) was recorded several times by its composer, including this version with saxophonist John Coltrane from 1963. The tune starts in Bb minor and ends in Db major, with a middle eight in A major (1:10 – 1:35). The tune saw prominent covers by Art Tatum, Sonny Rollins, and McCoy Tyner, among others.

Of the recording session, Coltrane said: “(Duke) has set standards I haven’t caught up with yet. I would have liked to have worked over all those numbers again, but then I guess the performances wouldn’t have had the same spontaneity. And they mightn’t have been any better!”

Kenny Barron | Have You Met Miss Jones

“Have You Met Miss Jones,” an enduring jazz standard, originated in the score of the 1937 musical I’d Rather Be Right, composed by the legendary songwriting team of Rogers and Hart. The tune is a part of the discographies of jazz artists including Stan Getz, Ahmad Jamal, Art Tatum, Kenny Barron (whose live performance we’re featuring), and many others.

The middle eight section of the tune (first heard at 0:17 – 0:25) features several modulations, departing from the overall key throughout.

Jerome Kern | The Way You Look Tonight

“The Way You Look Tonight,” co-written by Jerome Kern and winner of the Oscar Awards for Best Original Song in 1936 for its appearance in the movie “Swing Time,” was first performed by that film’s star, renowned dancer Fred Astaire. Multiple singers have covered this standard in the years since, from Ella to Billie to Sinatra to Tony Bennett, who is featured here. Modulation at the beginning of the middle section at 1:36, then back to the original key at 2:17.