"East of the Sun" is a swinging rendition of Brooks Bowman's 1934 standard from pianist Anthony D'Alessandro's 2022 album Searchin'. Taken at a comfortable medium-up tempo of about 167 bpm in E-flat, the performance features an unusual and delightful pairing of vocal solos from Caity Gyorgy and Benny Benack III, each taking one chorus through the 36-bar ABAC form. Gyorgy, a rising star of the Canadian vocal jazz scene, brings a warm, assured interpretation to the lyric, while Benack, known primarily as a trumpeter, reveals his considerable vocal chops with a swinging, personality-filled chorus of his own. The decision to feature two singers on this classic tune gives the track a conversational, almost duet-like quality, with each vocalist offering a distinct emotional perspective on the song's romantic themes. D'Alessandro's tasteful accompaniment provides a supportive harmonic backdrop without ever overshadowing the vocalists. As part of the Searchin' album, this track highlights the leader's versatility in programming, demonstrating that his vision extends beyond instrumental hard bop to embrace the vocal tradition that has always been central to jazz.
