Let Me Entertain You: Lead Sheet / Fake Book

Pure showmanship energy. The tune carries that infectious confidence of a performer who knows how to command a stage. Even on a single page, it captures the sparkle and drive that made this a signature moment.

Pianists preparing audition material, vocalists adding Broadway standards to their jazz or cabaret repertoire, and music educators teaching lead sheet reading and jazz interpretation. This format works equally well for solo practice and collaborative performance.

• Anchor the groove with a steady left hand; this tune lives in its pocket, and the melody needs a confident harmonic foundation to breathe.
• Sing or play the melody with rhythmic precision at the opening, then feel free to ornament and phrase it on repetitions once the feel is established.
• Let the accompaniment breathe during the lyrics; leave space for the vocalist's interpretation rather than filling every beat.

Feature it in a jazz or cabaret recital where vocalists and instrumentalists collaborate. Lead sheets also serve as excellent teaching tools for students learning to voice chords independently and read from jazz notation.

• Reading lead sheet notation and chord symbols
• Improvising harmonic accompaniment from a written chord chart
• Balancing melody support with interpretive freedom
• Understanding jazz voicing and comping techniques