Star Eyes

“Star Eyes” is a jazz standard composed by Gene DePaul, first introduced as the theme song for the 1943 film “I Dood It.” In the film, it was performed by Jimmy Dorsey and his orchestra. Since then, the song has been interpreted and performed by many jazz musicians.

The melody is beautiful and creates a dreamy atmosphere. The song follows a 32-bar AABA structure, with a unique harmonic shift in the bridge section. The melody is highly expressive, offering jazz musicians plenty of room for personal interpretation.

It’s essential to grasp and convey the subtle relationship between the melody and harmony. Special attention should be given to the harmonic progression in the bridge section, as interpreting this correctly is key to the performance. The rhythm section must maintain the song’s flow and structure, while soloists should stay true to the melody and harmony, yet explore creative interpretations to add new dimensions to the piece.