1905–1986 · American Composer
Harold Arlen wrote some of the most emotionally complex and harmonically adventurous songs in the American Songbook — music that swings, aches, and soars in equal measure. With lyricists including Yip Harburg, Johnny Mercer, and Ted Koehler, he created a body of work that jazz singers return to again and again.
Harold Arlen was born Hyman Arluck in Buffalo, New York in 1905, the son of a cantor — and that liturgical influence never fully left his music. He began his career as a pianist and singer before finding his voice as a composer, first at Harlem's Cotton Club in the early 1930s, where songs like "Stormy Weather" and "I've Got the World on a String" announced the arrival of a singular talent. His collaborations with lyricist Yip Harburg yielded "Over the Rainbow," while his work with Johnny Mercer produced some of the most poignant songs in the standard repertoire.
This workshop focuses on thirteen of Arlen's most rewarding songs for jazz vocalists — from the blues-drenched swagger of "Down With Love" to the aching beauty of "Last Night When We Were Young" and the quiet wonder of "A Sleepin' Bee." Each song rewards careful study: Arlen's melodies often leap in unexpected intervals, and his harmonies have a richness that invites improvisation.
Arlen himself was a gifted singer, and recordings of him performing his own songs offer invaluable insight into how freely these melodies can breathe. For singers seeking to go beyond the obvious standards, his catalog is an inexhaustible well.
Each song includes lead sheet and lyric sheet in both a men's and women's key, plus a practice backing track. In addition, there are YouTube links to a variety of artist renditions to inspire you.