My Favorite Cover Songs (168) "I Hear a Rhapsody": Chick Corea, Benny Goodman Orchestra with Helen Forrest, Bill Evans and Jim Hall, Lee Konitz and Michel Petrucciani, Keith Jarrett, John Coltrane

This song was written by three authors and released in 1941. It is a beautiful song that has been covered by many artists, used in films, and has become a standard. There are many great performances by jazz giants, especially famous recordings by renowned jazz pianists.
The first version I heard was from the live album "Trio Music, Live In Europe" (1984) by Chick Corea (1941-2021) and his trio. It is the second track on the album, and the flow of the first three tracks on this record is superb. Chick's crisp performance makes you feel bright and positive.

A "rhapsody" is defined in the dictionary as "an instrumental composition of irregular form, in which several musical themes are arranged one after another, being extremely free, unrestrained, and brilliant." The first thing that comes to my mind is Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody." The lyrics go, "When you're talking to me on the phone, I don't hear your voice, I hear a rhapsody. When you smile at me, I hear a rhapsody from the starry sky. Stay here, hold me, and whisper to me, and then I will hear a rhapsody from the starry sky." When she talks to him or he smiles at her, her emotions must be swirling, and a chaotic drama begins in her heart.

This is a 1940 recording by the Benny Goodman Orchestra featuring vocals by Helen Forrest. The retro sound and arrangement are just wonderful.

This is from the masterpiece duet album "Undercurrent" (1962) by two legends, Bill Evans (1929-80) and Jim Hall (1930-2013). There is plenty of space between the notes, making it elegant like an ink wash painting, and the underwater photograph on the cover is also bewitching. I love this kind of world.

This is from the live album "Toot Sweet" (1982), a duet by alto saxophonist Lee Konitz (1927-2020) and Michel Petrucciani (1962-99). It features a vibrant performance from the younger days of Petrucciani, who had a short life. Even just before he passed away, his playing remained bright and energetic.

Keith Jarrett (1945- ) is the legendary pianist who has appeared the most in these cover song articles. This is from the Standards Trio live album "Standards In Norway" (1995). On another live album by the same trio titled "Tribute," Keith performs this song as a tribute to Jim Hall.

John Coltrane (1926-67) covered this song on his album "Lush Life" (1957).