Some songs really need to be performed with a vocalist because the lyrics are so beautiful. And that is true for the jazz classic “All the Things You Are” It was written in 1939 for a show called “Very Warm for May.” Jerome Kern wrote the music while Oscar Hammerstein II wrote the words. These two musical geniuses collaborated for many great songs. Here are some of the lyrics from the verse, so you can see how remarkable the words are: —Paul Goldfinger
“You are the promised kiss of springtime
That makes the lonely winter seem long
You are the breathless hush of evening
That trembles on the brink of a lovely song
You are the angel glow that lights a star
The dearest things I know are what you are
Some day my happy arms will hold you
And some day I’ll know that moment divine
When all the things you are, are mine”
But the music is so gorgeous on its own, that in the hands of a great jazz musician you can get this—Dizzy Gillespie and his sextet, recorded in 1945.
Dizzy Gillespie. (1917-1993). One of the most innovative jazz musicians, especially in be-bop and Latin jazz.
BONUS TRACK: This time with the words. Carly Simon from her 22nd album “‘Moonlight Serenade.” (2005)
Oh, those misspent teen years. Instead of discovering the Gillespie Sextet (thanks for that fabulous album) I was listening to Marlene Dietricht singing “Lili Marlene” and Spike Jones’s crazy recordings.