Hey Improvisers,
Billy Strayhorn’s “Lush Life” is one of the all-time great jazz ballads. And while the chords in the most popular fake books are good, they aren’t quite what Strayhorn himself played.
Here’s a video I’ve made to show you Strayhorn’s original harmonies in some key places, most notably in the final measure of the tune:
Journey Through The Real Book #222: Lush Life
In addition to learning the original chords, pay particular attention to the various pianistic textures I use throughout my performance. A tune such as “Lush Life’ really lends itself well to Ellington-like diminished voicings, melodic left-hand countermelodies, and a myriad of solo piano ballad techniques.
Have fun trying these out when interpreting the song yourself!
Ron
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