Kurt Elling
Voice Solo on
It's Only a Paper Moon

About

Kurt Elling's half-chorus vocal solo is the second and final solo on this reading of the Arlen standard. Following Calderazzo's piano chorus, Elling takes half of the 32-bar AABA form at 117 BPM in C, demonstrating the expansive approach to jazz singing that has earned him multiple Grammy nominations. His scatting through the well-known changes of this Great American Songbook staple brings the vocal-piano duo's interpretation to a concise close, the half-chorus format keeping his contribution proportionate to the intimate setting.

Kurt Elling was 56 to 57 years old at the time.