Hoagy Carmichael's "Stardust" receives a luminous ballad treatment on Jonathan Kreisberg Trio's 2004 album New For Now, with organist Gary Versace taking the lead solo role. Versace's full-chorus organ solo over the 32-bar AA' form at a gentle 59 beats per minute in C major reveals his lyrical sensitivity and harmonic sophistication, the organ's sustained tones lending an almost orchestral quality to his interpretation of one of the most beloved melodies in American popular music. Kreisberg follows with a half-chorus electric guitar solo that sustains the intimate mood, his warm tone and thoughtful phrasing adding a guitarist's perspective to the standard's emotional landscape. Drummer Mark Ferber provides delicate brushwork and textural support throughout. "Stardust," composed in 1927 and later fitted with lyrics by Mitchell Parish, has been recorded by hundreds of artists across genres, but the organ trio setting gives this version a distinctive timbral character. The slow tempo allows both soloists to linger over the melody's beautiful contours, finding new details in harmonies that have been explored by generations of jazz musicians. This track demonstrates the New For Now trio's ability to bring genuine emotion and fresh insight to the most canonical material in the jazz repertoire.
