Who's Sorry Now: E-Z Play Today

This E-Z Play arrangement opens up a classic of American popular song to pianists who are building fluency with jazz voicings and swing idioms. The simplified notation lets students focus on the style and feel of the tune rather than wrestling with complex notation, making it ideal for developing swing comping skills and understanding how standards sit within the pop and jazz repertoire.

A swinging, conversational tune that sits somewhere between a torch ballad and a jazz number. There's a nostalgia and warmth to the melody, supported by chords that give enough harmonic color to keep things interesting without becoming dense or overly complex.

Pianists in the intermediate-beginner range who want to build comfort with standards and jazz-pop repertoire without the notational demands of a full score. This also works well for students preparing to play as accompanists for singers working on classic American songbook material.

• Listen closely to the original recording to absorb the swing feel and phrasing; the rhythm section should sit back and breathe with the melody rather than push it forward.
• Shape the melody by subtly relaxing the time on the lyrical phrases, then locking in the groove on the more rhythmic sections.
• Balance the left hand accompaniment so it supports without overwhelming; this tune lives in the interplay between vocalist and rhythm section.

Pair this with other standards from the American songbook as part of a jazz appreciation unit or a pops concert that celebrates classic singers. It also works well as a solo piece for a student pianist exploring the jazz and popular music traditions that shaped twentieth-century American music.

• Swing feel and rhythmic phrasing in the context of popular song
• Jazz voicings and chord colors in a simple, accessible context
• Accompanying skills that balance support with restraint
• Understanding the standards repertoire and its role in jazz and popular music