If I Ruled the World: Piano/Vocal/Chords

This collection puts 32 standards within reach of pianists and singers at intermediate to advanced levels, with chord symbols that support solo performance or duo collaboration. The duet arrangements with contemporary artists demonstrate how these timeless songs remain relevant across generations, offering teaching moments about vocal phrasing, jazz interpretation, and the craft of the American songbook.

Sophisticated yet approachable. These are songs shaped by decades of recorded tradition, carrying the warmth of Bennett's interpretive legacy while remaining playable in intimate settings. The chord symbols invite interpretation, creating space for personal musicality within a framework of proven material.

Pianists and singers in their late teens through adulthood who want to expand their standards repertoire without lengthy arrangements or excessive vocal range demands. This collection also serves music teachers and coaches who accompany singers and need accessible arrangements of jazz and popular standards.

• Study the original Tony Bennett recordings alongside the printed chords to understand his phrasing choices and where he sits rhythmically against the beat, especially in ballads like 'The Boulevard of Broken Dreams.'
• Treat chord symbols as a springboard, not a constraint. Listen to how Bennett voices chords and experiment with reharmonization to find voicings that suit your hand size and musical instincts.
• Balance melody clarity with harmonic support. Many of these standards reward a touch approach on the piano; let the lyrics breathe rather than filling every eighth note.
• When performing duet versions, review recordings of the featured artists (Diana Krall, Amy Winehouse, Stevie Wonder, etc.) to appreciate the vocal character and range each brings to the song.

Select individual standards to pair with other jazz or American songbook material in recitals, showcases, or studio recital programs. The duet versions are especially effective for demonstrating how vocalists from different eras and styles can interpret the same song, working well in educational concerts or master class settings. The included biography and career timeline make this resource valuable for contextualizing jazz history in a learning environment.

• Reading chord symbols and realizing them at the piano with appropriate voicings
• Interpreting jazz phrasing and swing articulation from chord-based notation
• Balancing vocal melody with harmonic accompaniment
• Sustaining legit singing technique over a full album's worth of material
• Understanding the harmonic language of standards (ii-V-I progressions, secondary dominants, jazz substitutions)