Why this tune?
Tunes on Tuesday posts on Wednesday this week, as I was traveling on Tuesday, returning
from a short vacation in Copenhagen. I played this tune with a singer at a Copenhagen jam session. That reminded me what a beautiful song it is.
Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin wrote the song for a 1937 movie, and it was quickly picked
up by Billie Holiday, who recorded it with Teddy Wilson that same year. Other recordings started to come out in the 1950s, and the song soon became part of the jazz canon. According to jazzstandards.com, “Easy Living” is number 80 on the list of top jazz standards, with over 370 vocal and instrumental recordings.
As you would expect, there are many fine versions of the tune, including inspired readings by Nancy Wilson and Bill Evans. I’m going to add it to my repertoire and will be sure to call it myself at a session soon.
Tunes On Tuesday Reel
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Complete track
Nancy Wilson
Bill Evans
Oren Levine, jazz pianist and songwriter 