A 2021 performance of Leigh Harline's When You Wish Upon a Star by the LA Jazz Connection, featuring Danny Janklow on alto saxophone. Originally written for Disney's 1940 film Pinocchio, the tune is performed at 119 BPM in A-flat with a ballad feel. Janklow takes a half-chorus solo over the 32-bar AABA form, treating the beloved melody with lyrical sensitivity. The song has been adopted by jazz musicians including Dexter Gordon, Keith Jarrett, and Bill Evans, its wide-interval melody and warm harmonic foundation lending themselves to jazz interpretation. The ballad-tempo treatment preserves the song's dreamy, aspirational quality while allowing Janklow room for harmonic exploration within the half-chorus format. This performance reflects the LA Jazz Connection's willingness to draw from the broader popular songbook beyond typical jazz standards, incorporating material from the Great American Songbook in its widest definition. The compact format makes a complete statement within a brief duration, emphasizing melodic beauty and tonal quality.
