Gene de Paul's 1942 standard gets an uptempo, hard-swinging treatment in this 2018 recording from tenor saxophonist Chad Lefkowitz-Brown's Standard Sessions series. The tune's unusual 48-bar ABA form — significantly longer than the typical 32-bar standard — gives each chorus a more expansive arc, and at roughly 225 beats per minute, the soloists cover a great deal of harmonic ground at speed. Lefkowitz-Brown takes three full choruses on tenor saxophone, building intensity through the extended form with lines that navigate the tune's shifting tonal centers — the melody moves through major, minor, and chromatic passages that challenge even experienced improvisers. Pianist Adam Birnbaum matches him with three equally substantial choruses, bringing a polished, harmonically rich approach to the same demanding changes. The result is a recording with an unusually generous amount of solo space for two voices, each taking more than two and a half minutes to develop their ideas. The tune has long been a favorite testing ground for jazz musicians, with celebrated versions by artists ranging from Charlie Parker to Pat Metheny, and this rendition adds a modern, straight-ahead interpretation that emphasizes fluid technique and sustained melodic invention.
