A Fine Romance: The Jerome Kern Songbook

A Fine Romance: The Jerome Kern Songbook

A rich, multi-artist celebration of one of the great architects of the American Songbook, this compilation pays tribute to the enduring elegance of Jerome Kern, whose melodies helped define the language of 20th-century popular music and jazz.

Bringing together iconic interpretations from across generations, the collection highlights how Kern’s songwriting continues to inspire vocalists and instrumentalists alike. From the sophisticated swing of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong to the smoky intimacy of Billie Holiday and the cool elegance of Sarah Vaughan, each performance refracts Kern’s harmonic richness through a distinct artistic lens.

Standout moments include the unmistakable chemistry of Fitzgerald and Armstrong on the title track A Fine Romance, the lyrical sophistication of All The Things You Are, and the wistful reinterpretations of standards like The Way You Look Tonight and Yesterdays. Across styles ranging from jazz trio intimacy to orchestral vocal performance, Kern’s music proves remarkably adaptable while retaining its emotional core.

This is less a single narrative than a mosaic - different voices, eras, and moods unified by the enduring strength of great songwriting.

Tracklist:

1 A Fine Romance – Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong
2 Let’s Begin – Margaret Whiting
3 Smoke Gets In Your Eyes – Billy Eckstine
4 Bill – Morgana King
5 I’m Old Fashioned – Cassandra Wilson
6 All The Things You Are – Sarah Vaughan
7 The Folks Who Live On The Hill – Arthur Prysock
8 I Won’t Dance – Blossom Dearie
9 They Didn’t Believe Me – Dinah Washington
10 I’ll Be Hard To Handle – Ella Fitzgerald
11 The Way You Look Tonight – Fred Astaire
12 Yesterdays – Helen Merrill feat. Stan Getz
13 Pick Yourself Up – Anita O’Day
14 Why Do I Love You? – Margaret Whiting
15 The Way You Look Tonight – Ella Fitzgerald
16 A Fine Romance – Billie Holiday