Recorded in 1958 for Chet Baker Sings: It Could Happen To You, this version of Burton Lane and E.Y. Harburg's "Old Devil Moon" features a prominent piano solo from Kenny Drew, who takes a half-chorus improvisation at a brisk swing tempo of roughly 162 BPM in the key of F. The song, from the 1947 Broadway musical Finian's Rainbow, has an infectious, slightly exotic quality built on its distinctive harmonic motion, and Drew seizes on this character with an energetic, rhythmically driven solo full of crisp articulation and bebop-influenced melodic ideas. The tune's 48-bar AA' form, longer than the standard 32-bar structure found in most jazz repertoire, gives Drew an expansive framework to develop his improvisational narrative. Baker's vocal performance on the head captures the song's playful, bewitching quality, his light delivery perfectly suited to a lyric about the irresistible pull of romantic attraction. The up-tempo swing feel propels the arrangement forward with a kinetic energy that distinguishes this track from the album's more reflective ballad performances. The rhythm section locks into a tight groove that supports Drew's adventurous harmonic explorations while maintaining the tune's inherent swing. As one of the more uptempo numbers on the album, "Old Devil Moon" provides a welcome change of pace and showcases the ensemble's ability to generate excitement within the intimate chamber-jazz format that defines these sessions.
