What Is This Thing Called Love

Although it's not the most complicated arrangement ever written, Buddy Bregman's treatment of Cole Porter's classic What Is This Thing Called Love serves its purpose as a simple, effective frame for the incomparable vocals of Ella Fitzgerald. It also comes with the side bonus of giving your trumpet section a mid-concert break, as the instrumental accompaniment consists only of a trombone quartet and rhythm section. The verse is handled rubato by just vocals and piano before the medium swing tempo kicks in at measure 18. Fitzgerald's vocals are firmly in the spotlight throughout, with the cup-muted trombones providing some easy going interjections in the melody's natural gaps. Once the melody has been stated, the trombones get a chance to shine at measure 54. The first A section is a slightly varied version of the melody, whereas the second is an 8-bar improvised solo. Fitzgerald returns for the bridge at measure 70, where the arrangement is recycled note for note from before. The four-bar introductory figure is used once again for an ending at measure 84, with a quick held chord sliding cleanly into one last hit to wrap things up. Note: The original recorded version of this arrangement begins at measure 18, skipping over the rubato verse altogether. We have included the verse to give you the option to perform it if you wish. The vocal key is G. This publication was based on the original Buddy Bregman score from Ella Fitzgerald's library. This is not a transcription.