Autumn in New York

... and not just there but everywhere in the Northern hemisphere. Except Autumn leaves, Autumn in New York is the most famous jazz standard about the time of fall. In this song the lyrics isn't about the lost love and the sorrow, it's about the status when a big town is getting surrounded by a new, magical season. And because in NY everything is the most-most-most, autumn is also had to be wonderful there, and the song is an additional proof for it. It was written in 1934 by Vernon Duke and also performed by many musicians and singers.

Jazzstandard.com tells us "Vernon Duke’s composition was written for the 1934 showThumbs Up! and introduced by J. Harold Murray. Thirteen years later it rose to number 27 on the pop charts thanks to a fine vocal version by Frank Sinatra."

Autumn in New York
Why does it seem so inviting?
Autumn in New York
It spells the thrill of first-knighting

Glittering crowds and shimmering clouds
In canyons of steel
They're making me feel
I'm home

It's autumn in New York
That brings the promise of new love
Autumn in New York
Is often mingled with pain

Dreamers with empty hands
May sigh for exotic lands
It's autumn in New York
It's good to live it again

Lovers that bless the dark
On benches in Central Park
It's autumn in New York
It's good to live it again

Some albums on which you can hear it:

• Ahmad Jamal Trio - Ahmad's blues
• Billie Holiday - Lady in autumn - The best of the Verve years
• Bud Powell - The amazing Bud Powell, vol. 2.
• Buddy Defranco - Mr. Clarinet
• Charlie Parker - Charlie Parker with strings -the master takes
• Chet Baker Quartet - Jazz in Paris, vol. 53.
• Dexter Gordon - Autumn in New York
• Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong - Ella and Louis again
• Frank Sinatra - Come fly with me
• Jo Stafford - Autumn in New York and other classics
• John Stetch - Heavens of a hundred days
• Kenny Barron - New York attitude
• Mel Tormé - Songs of New York
• Phineas Newborn Jr - Phineas' rainbow
• Shelly Manne - The three and the two
• Sonny Stitt - Autumn in New York
• Stan Kenton - Portraits on standards
• Sun Ra - The Sun Ra Sextet at the Village Vaungard
• The Hi-Lo's - Love nest / All over the place
• The Modern Jazz Quartet - Django

Some videos - Autumn in New York, performance by:

• Ella and Louis: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50zL8TnMBN8
• Billie Holiday: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PS3ZTVeqJjA
• Frank Sinatra: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WohRBN5oflE

Read more about it here.

More standards about autumn: Autumn leaves, September in the rain, September song.