It’s Only A Paper Moon (arr. Paris Rutherford)

The great Harold Arlen wrote this for an unsuccessful Broadway play. But you can’t keep a good song down. This has been recorded by Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Goodman and many more. Here is a treatment that begins with the choir in unison for the first two verses establishing an easy swing style. The bridge keeps swinging but with tight harmony and it is followed by a dynamite choral scat section. It goes out swinging as hard as it began but with hip, jazzy harmony and a “Basie” ending.