Big Spender (from Sweet Charity): E-Z Play Today

This E-Z Play arrangement captures the sultry, conversational quality that made Lee's original recording iconic without demanding advanced technique. Students can focus on the phrasing and dynamics that turn a simple melody into a jazz standard, and the simplified format means more class time spent on interpretation rather than note-reading struggles.

Confident and knowing. The melody moves with the ease of someone who has learned how to work a room, delivered with a wink and a knowing smile. Underneath sits a groove that never rushes, supported by harmony that suggests late-night sophistication.

Pianists exploring jazz standards and Broadway repertoire at an intermediate or early-advanced level will find this manageable without sacrificing the song's character. Vocalists need an accompanist who understands the song's rhythmic flexibility and can support rather than dictate tempo.

• Shape the opening phrases with subtle rubato; let the melody breathe rather than march straight through the beat.
• Anchor the left hand lightly so the accompaniment sits behind the vocal line instead of competing with it.
• Lean into the syncopation in the bridge. Anticipate slightly rather than sitting back on the beat.
• Let silence work for you. The spaces between phrases matter as much as the notes themselves.

Pair this with other Lee recordings or Broadway standards from the mid-century for a thematic concert exploring interpretive singing and jazz phrasing. It also works well as a lesson in arranging for students ready to see how a melody can be scaled down for smaller ensembles or educational settings without losing its essential character.

• Jazz phrasing and rubato
• Syncopated rhythm reading
• Accompanying vocalists with flexibility and restraint
• Interpreting dynamics to shape a simple melody