Who's Sorry Now: Lead Sheet

These are Waller's own piano arrangements of the songs that made him legendary, which means you're learning jazz piano from someone who lived and shaped the language. The collection balances accessibility with real musical meat: stride bass lines, jazz voicings, and the rhythmic sophistication that defined his era. The bonus material from Ain't Misbehavin' adds theatrical flair and extends the repertoire for recitals and performance classes.

Swinging, witty, and unapologetically joyful. These pieces have the energy of a Harlem nightclub in the 1930s: rhythmically buoyant, harmonically rich, and full of personality. Playing them feels like joining a conversation between an old friend and a packed house, where technical skill and warmth go hand in hand.

Intermediate and advanced pianists seeking authentic jazz repertoire with strong technical grounding and personality. This book suits students ready to move beyond classical or pop-influenced styles into the stride, swing, and blues-inflected traditions of early American jazz. It's also valuable for music educators introducing jazz history and composition through the work of a legendary practitioner.

• Anchor the stride left hand with confidence. The bass line drives the groove; let your listeners feel the pulse through it rather than playing it lightly or defensively.
• Experiment with the rhythmic flexibility Waller embedded in these arrangements. Jazz piano thrives on subtle rubato and swing; the written notes are a blueprint, not a straitjacket.
• Balance the melody's character against the harmonic sophistication underneath. Waller often wrote witty, simple-sounding top lines over complex chords; clarity in the right hand lets both shine.
• Explore the humor in these pieces. Many titles hint at Waller's personality and playfulness; let that attitude inform your touch and phrasing without undermining the musicianship.

Feature individual selections in jazz recitals, piano performance classes, or concert programs that need genuine swing and historical weight. The Ain't Misbehavin' section works well in revue-style productions or cabaret programs. Assign selections to advanced students studying jazz history or stride piano technique as repertoire-based learning rather than supplementary material.

• Stride piano technique and left-hand independence
• Jazz harmony voicing and reharmonization
• Swing rhythms and jazz phrasing in written music
• Stylistic interpretation of early jazz and theatrical jazz standards
• Melodic clarity over complex harmonic backgrounds