Oh! Lady Be Good

In the jazz world, the Brothers Gershwin's 'Oh! Lady, Be Good' is a jam session favorite that is typically taken at a medium to fast clip. This Nelson Riddle arrangement for Ella Fitzgerald, however, is performed mostly as a gentle ballad. Although this makes it stand out as is, the chart also serves as a textbook example of Riddle's string writing at its most lush. A brief and slightly brisk introduction by the strings sets up the verse at measure 5. The vocalist can interpret the verse in a fairly rubato manner, however this section should overall have a vague 2-feel to it. Make sure your string players are aware of the loose tempo here, as it will require attentiveness to execute properly. The final four measures of the verse begin to settle down, finally transitioning into both the main melody and a stable genius ballad tempo at measure 21. Fitzgerald's interpretation is fairly straight and devoid of embellishments, while Riddle's writing provides almost epically soaring accompaniment in between the gaps. In addition to this, the pianist can provide some gentle fills in and around the first half of the melody. The second bridge of the melody at measure 53 sees a return to the chart's rubato beginning for a brief moment before the tempo returns for the final A section at measure 61. The arrangement's outro serves as a perfect conclusion, as everything gently winds down beginning with the violins playing a tagged melody line. The vocals return shortly thereafter as the tempo gradually slows. Once the final note of the melody is reached, the harp and celeste pay a gentle chiming figure that resolves into a pleasantly mellow conclusion. This arrangement is for vocal soloist with studio orchestra. It is not a transcription - it has been prepared from Nelson Riddle's original score.