"Old Devil Moon," from Burton Lane's score for the musical Finian's Rainbow, receives a swinging treatment on Anita O'Day's 1957 Verve album Anita Sings the Most. Guitarist Herb Ellis takes the featured instrumental solo, delivering a partial chorus over the 48-bar AA' form at 215 beats per minute in B-flat major. Ellis's warm-toned guitar work, with its blend of swing-era elegance and bebop harmonic sophistication, provides an ideal complement to O'Day's vocal approach. As a member of the Oscar Peterson Trio, Ellis was at the peak of his powers during this period, and his solo here demonstrates the effortless fluency that made him one of the most respected guitarists in jazz. The track benefits from the extraordinary rhythm section of Peterson on piano, Ray Brown on bass, and John Poole on drums, creating a buoyant swing feel that supports both the vocal and instrumental solos. O'Day's ability to engage with such high-caliber musicians on equal musical terms was a hallmark of her artistry, her rhythmic sense and improvisational instincts making her a natural fit for the jazz combo format. The performance captures the easygoing yet sophisticated spirit that characterizes the album as a whole.
