We’ll Be Together Again

“We’ll Be Together Again” has music composed by Carl T. Fischer, with lyrics by Frankie Laine. Fischer was Laine’s pianist and musical director when he composed the tune, and Laine was asked to write the lyrics for it. The Pied Pipers were the first to release the song, and as well as Laine, it has since been recorded by numerous artists such as Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, Lou Rawls and Tony Bennett.

This is a lovely tune which I have given an instrumental, slow dance setting.

Nica’s Dream

“Nica’s Dream” was composed by jazz pianist Horace Silver in the 1950’s. “Nica” was the Kathleen Annie Pannonica de Koenigswarter (born Rothschild; 10 December 1913 – 30 November 1988) who was a British-born jazz patron and writer. She was a leading patron of bebop music. She was born to the prominent Rothschild international financial dynasty.

This is a truly beautiful tune, and my arrangement is very straight – though done in the style of sixties guitar instrumentals rather than jazz.

The Girl From Ipanema

“The Girl From Ipanema” is the song that, for most Americans, first created an awareness of Brazilian music and Bossa Nova. Written by the great Antonio Carlos Jobim, it was a 1964 single version that became a US and international hit, peaking at #5 on the US singles charts. The single featured American saxophonist Stan Getz, Brazilian singer-guitarist Joao Gilberto and his then-wife Astrid as the main vocalist.

In spite of its international popularity and the prominence of the guitar in the style, it was not picked up by instrumental guitar bands. The one exception seems an over-produced version by the Shadows on an album called “The Shadows with Strings Attached”.

I decided to try a more traditional sixties approach.

The More I See You

“The More I See You” was composed by Harry Warren, with lyrics by Mack Gordon in 1945. It is considered a jazz standard and part of the “American Songbook”. It has been recorded by many artists — such as Nat Cole and Julie London in the 1950s and more recently by Michael Buble’.

In 1966, Chris Montez released the most commercially successful and well-known recording of the song on Herb Alpert’s A&M label.  This version went to number sixteen on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent four weeks at number two on the Easy Listening chart.

My instrumental arrangement attempts to combine the straightforward innocence of the Chris Montez version with the more complex and sophisticated harmonies normally associated with jazz versions.

Fly Me to the Moon

“Fly me to the Moon” was written in 1954 by Bart Howard. The song is probably most associated with Frank Sinatra and his 1964 version, but it has been recorded in both vocally and instrumentally by countless artists. By every measure this tune is a standard.

However, as far as I know it had never been given an instrumental guitar-rock setting before. Now it has. 🙂

I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face

“I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face”, from the Lerner & Lowe musical “My Fair Lady”, is such a beautiful tune. BTW, please do not mistakenly think the title is actually “I’ve Thrown a Custard in Your Face”.

Green Dolphin Street

“Green Dolphin Street” has been a staple of the straight-ahead jazz repertoire ever since Miles recorded it back in 1958. My arrangement is in a smooth-jazz vein, and I think it works pretty well. Great tune.