How jazz musicians learn hundreds of tunes

[AllanAllen]

That's Benny Carter's original melody and set of changes. The version you're referring to is probably the one by Miles in 1951, released 15 years after Carter's first effort.

The late Australian jazz pianist, Julian Lee lived in L.A. during the '60s and '70's (producing for Billy May, arranging for Peggy Lee and recording with Joe Pass among others at Capitol Records). He met both Benny and Miles at a party in jazz critic, Leonard Feather's home and quipped, "Ah, it's very nice to be in a house with the two composers of When Lights Are Low". It was said that you could cut the air with a knife!

Coincidentally, George Shearing was at that same party. Shearing set up Lee with Capitol after meeting him on a Sydney tour. The connection was no doubt made stronger by the fact that both pianists were blind.

I came back to say these are the original changes, but it looks like
you did a while ago.

But we can still call it a Woolworth as the 1936 original was composed and written in Britain. Per ejazzlines.com

In 1935, Carter left the United States to play and write in Europe, and his presence there had an immediate effect on European jazz and dance musicians. After staying in France for nine months, Carter accepted an invitation to arrange for the BBC Dance Orchestra under the direction of Henry Hall, and while he could not play with the orchestra because of British music union rules, he could play on a series of recordings contracted by the Vocalion (UK) label.The Music:

On June 20, 1936, Carter and a quartet (which included Americans Gene Rodgers and Bernard Addison) made the first recording of 'When Lights Are Low' with a vocal by fellow expatriate, vocalist Elisabeth Welch (lyrics were written by Spencer Williams).

WHEN LIGHTS ARE LOW: Arranged by Benny Carter, Prepared by Jeffrey Sultanof and Rob DuBoff: Jazz Lines Publications

[PMB]

Nice bit of research, Allen. I'm not sure what Conrad Cork or John Elliott (the Lego bricks school) call that bridge but I'll be thinking Woolworths every time I play the tune from now on!

[AllanAllen]