Just One Of Those Things [Jazz version] (from High Society) (arr. Brent Edstrom): Piano Vocal

Brent Edstrom's jazz arrangement strips away pretension and gets straight to the swinging heart of this Porter masterpiece. The voicings stay true to the harmonic sophistication that makes the song compelling, while the rhythmic feel invites genuine interpretive freedom from both vocalist and pianist.

Wistful and knowing at once. The melody has a slightly detached, observant quality, as though the singer is reflecting on something that matters but refusing to be sentimental about it. Underneath, the piano swings with quiet confidence, creating space for the voice to breathe and respond.

Vocalists comfortable with jazz idiom and pianists who want an accessible entry point into accompanying singers through popular standards. This arrangement works for intermediate to advanced students who have begun exploring how to interpret rhythm and harmony flexibly rather than literally.

• Treat the melody as conversational rather than lyrical; Porter's phrasing follows natural speech rhythms, so resist the urge to over-sing.
• Find the swing feel by listening to how the piano accompaniment sits slightly behind the beat in the jazz sections, then lock your vocal phrasing to that pocket.
• The chord changes here are dense enough to reward careful listening during rehearsal; map out where the harmonic shifts happen so you can anticipate them vocally.
• Balance the introspective verses with a more energetic, swinging feel in the chorus; Porter wrote this song to shift emotional gears, and the arrangement follows that arc.

Pair this with other Porter standards or jazz vocal selections for a concert focused on American songwriting tradition. It also serves well as a recital piece for vocalists exploring the crossroads between classical technique and jazz interpretation, or as a teaching piece that illuminates how skilled arrangers adapt standards for different ensembles and contexts.

• interpreting jazz swing feel and rhythmic placement
• navigating chromatic and sophisticated harmonic progressions
• balancing melodic phrasing with rhythmic flexibility
• understanding song form and harmonic structure in Broadway standards
• collaborative listening between vocalist and pianist