Origin:

From the Broadway musical Music in the Air.

Style:

Typically swung, taken at a wide variety of tempos.

Form:

A1-A2-B-A3 (64 Bars) [16-16-16-16]

Key:

Most commonly played in C Major.

Harmony/Overview:

The harmony of this composition is functional. The A sections all revolve around variations of a I - VI - II - V, although each ends slightly differently. The bridge modulates to III Major for its duration and begins on IMaj7. After a II - V back to IMaj7 it is followed by a minor II - V to the relative minor, and it then finishes with a III - VI - II -  V before returning back to the original key. The melody being made up nearly entirely of quarter notes and half notes makes the tune  especially well-suited for up tempo treatments, and it is often taken at blistering speeds.

Recordings:

This song has been recorded over 300 times to date. The first studio recording comes from Jack Denny and his Waldorf-Astoria Orchestra with vocal by Paul Small in 1932. The composition has since found favor  amongst musicians and vocalists alike, and many musicians have recorded it on multiple occasions throughout their careers.

JGC Top Picks:

Cannonball Adderley, Julian “Cannonball” Adderley, 1955

Joe Pass, Virtuoso, 1973

Joe Lovano, Celebrating Sinatra, 1996