January 2026 - Moonlight in Vermont

[M-ster]

Happy new year, jazz people!

Our standard for Jan 2026 will be Moonlight in Vermont (Karl Suessdorf, John M. Blackburn, 1944).

Background:
Jazz Standards Songs and Instrumentals (Moonlight in Vermont)

[Question]

I originally posted this in the chord melody section at the beginning of 2025 and will re-post it here in case anyone is interested.

It is a pretty straight-ahead arrangement. If you find any part of it interesting and you are unable to figure out what I am doing, just ask and I will explain it.

There is no improvisation, just the theme. If I find some time and inspiration maybe I will post a version with improv.

Ok, as promised here is a version from today with imprv. The backing track is the Quartet app.

Ok, one more from today, an arrangement from Dan Baraszu;

[ragman1]

Happy New Year, M-ster, good tune :-)

[Strat-itis]

[ragman1]

It'll do. It's not very jazzy :-)

[Strat-itis]

It'll do. It's not very jazzy :-)

[Mick-7]

Well, that was interesting.... rambled a bit, almost free form at times, you took some chances, which is what jazz is all about.

[Mick-7]

It'll do. It's not very jazzy :-)

Your last three chords were....

Ragman, have you considered playing more varied comping rhythms? That one change would make it more interesting.

[ragman1]

Your last three chords were....

Chords and line straight from the leadsheet :-)



Attachment 128313

have you considered playing more varied comping rhythms? That one change would make it more interesting.

Yes, and tried a few, but not for very long. It lacks bass and drums, or at least some substantial backing, not just comped chords with gaps. Strumming works too, of course.

[alltunes]

Coincidently I started revisiting this tune in earnest the other day. Such a great song and perfect for solo guitar.

[Strat-itis]

Well, that was interesting.... rambled a bit, almost free form at times, you took some chances, which is what jazz is all about.

Is that comment supposed to be positive, negative, or neutral?

Or just uppity.

[ragman1]

have you considered playing more varied comping rhythms? That one change would make it more interesting.

We could try this. It's more in keeping with the sort of thing backing tracks do. I don't know if you've scoured the net for different versions of this tune but a lot of players do some very odd things with it.

Anyway, I've taken the swing off it and now it's smooth. Whether it makes it more interesting or not, I've no idea. See what you think.

[Question]

Moonlight In Vermont from today. Playback is the Quartet app.

[Strat-itis]

Excellent

[Mick-7]

Is that comment supposed to be positive, negative, or neutral?

Or just uppity.

Well, I don't normally call stuff I don't like "interesting," so it was not a negative review. Your rendition was not ordinary, which is a good thing.

Jazz is by nature uppity, isn't it?

[Strat-itis]

Haha thx

[Mick-7]

We could try this. It's more in keeping with the sort of thing backing tracks do. I don't know if you've scoured the net for different versions of this tune but a lot of players do some very odd things with it.

Anyway, I've taken the swing off it and now it's smooth. Whether it makes it more interesting or not, I've no idea. See what you think.

I liked this take more than your first one, perhaps because it's a different rhythm than you usually play.

"I don't know if you've scoured the net for different versions of this tune but a lot of players do some very odd things with it."

Lots of chord melodies.... some good, some not so good.

I like this one:

[ragman1]

I liked this take more than your first one, perhaps because it's a different rhythm than you usually play.

True, and it's probably more like what the tune is supposed to sound like. 70 is pretty slow but I wanted initially to do a chorus + improv and that was going to make it terribly drawn out. I thought people, if they bother to listen to it at all, would be bored. I've had people put likes on my clips and you can see on Soundcloud how many times it's been listened to... none!

Anyway, this is becoming the ragman show so I'll stop. I may as well post the improv over the new backing since I've done it. Thanks for your interest and responses.

Did I say Happy New Year yet? Off we go again!

[alltunes]

Ragman1…ever try a chord melody? Moonlight is a great candidate for CM.

[lawson-stone]

It'll do. It's not very jazzy :-)

This is quite nice. I enjoyed it, and I think it's plenty jazzy enough.

[ragman1]

Ragman1…ever try a chord melody? Moonlight is a great candidate for CM.

I don't do chord melody. I used to play classical but that's different; different technique, different feel, nylon strings, etc.

To be honest, chord melody bores me, even when performed by pros. I can never remember what I've arranged so it means first memorising it and then repeating it by rote. I prefer the spontaneity of on-the-spot improv. That's what improvisation means after all.

But I agree, this tune is absolutely right for chord melody.

[ragman1]

This is quite nice. I enjoyed it, and I think it's plenty jazzy enough.

Well, it's horses for courses apparently. Some like that one, some prefer the smoother version. Happy to oblige either way :-)

[ragman1]

You remember I said there were some 'different' versions around, here's one.

[Mick-7]

To be honest, chord melody bores me, even when performed by pros. I can never remember what I've arranged so it means first memorizing it and then repeating it by rote. I prefer the spontaneity of on-the-spot improv. That's what improvisation means after all.

One can of course improvise chord melodies. Working on comping can be combined with working on arranging chord melodies, that is to say, they are related studies.

[ragman1]

I knew someone who could improvise anything with chords, if you like. He used to play with a jazz band I frequented. Very impressive.

I asked him once how he did it. 'No idea' he said and wandered off. Not a fool :-)