Big Spender: Lead Sheet / Fake Book

Urbane and knowing, with the swagger of someone who understands the darker corners of desire and money. The harmonic movement is elegant without being precious, and there's a rhythmic ease that makes it feel conversational even when the chords get interesting.

Jazz singers, pianists comfortable with jazz standards, and music theater ensembles looking to expand beyond conventional musical theater rep. This works equally well for a cabaret setting, jazz combo rehearsal, or as a solo feature.

• Lean into the swing feel on the offbeats; the sophistication here comes from rhythmic placement as much as harmonic accuracy.
• Treat the chord changes as conversational rather than mechanical. This tune rewards pianists who listen to what the vocalist is doing and adjust their voicings accordingly.
• Let the lyrical content inform your phrasing. The worldly attitude of the song should come through in how you shape each phrase.

Slot this into a jazz or American songbook concert to show your singers' maturity and interpretive range. It pairs naturally with other mid-century standards and gives pianists a chance to demonstrate their comping skills in a performance setting.

• Reading and interpreting jazz chord symbols
• Improvising and personalizing melodic lines over changes
• Swing rhythm interpretation
• Jazz piano voicing and comping
• Communicating with ensemble members through harmonic listening