Ralph Rainger's "Easy Living" receives a sumptuous ballad treatment on Rickey Woodard's 1992 live album The Tokyo Express, with the saxophonist switching to alto for one of the album's most intimate performances. Woodard's single-chorus alto saxophone solo over the 32-bar AABA form at 55 beats per minute in F major reveals a different tonal palette than his tenor work, the alto's brighter, more focused sound lending the ballad an almost vocal quality. His phrasing is unhurried and deeply expressive, each note placed with care and emotional intention. Pianist James Williams follows with a half-chorus solo that sustains the performance's gentle mood, his harmonic sophistication complementing the song's rich chord changes. Originally composed in 1937 and famously recorded by Billie Holiday, "Easy Living" belongs to the category of jazz standards that reward an interpreter's patience and emotional sensitivity. Woodard's decision to play alto on this track adds variety to the album's program while demonstrating his fluency on a second instrument. The rhythm section of Christian McBride and Clarence Johnston provides the most delicate support heard on the album, their playing attuned to the ballad's dynamic requirements.
