Jimmy Van Heusen's "It Could Happen to You," with lyrics by Johnny Burke, is a jazz standard that has been a staple of the repertoire since the 1944 film And the Angels Sing. Michael Mayo's version on his 2024 album Fly presents the tune at a brisk swing tempo of approximately 201 beats per minute in the key of F, maintaining a traditional rhythmic approach that contrasts with the album's more genre-blending tracks. Shai Maestro opens the solo section with a full chorus of piano improvisation over the ABAC form, displaying his exceptional command of bebop harmony and his ability to construct solos that balance technical brilliance with emotional depth. Mayo follows with his own full-chorus vocal improvisation, demonstrating his remarkable ability to scat at tempo with the precision and creativity of an instrumentalist. His vocal solo engages in a kind of musical dialogue with Maestro's preceding statement, picking up harmonic threads and rhythmic ideas while adding his own distinctive vocal personality. The inclusion of this Van Heusen standard alongside the more contemporary material on Fly illustrates Mayo's versatility and his conviction that jazz standards remain relevant when approached with genuine musical passion and improvisational skill.
