One Fine Day – Ray Bryant & L. Aziza Miller

Don Sickler: "Our audio excerpt starts with Tina May singing the melody. I'm sure that most of you immediately recognize that One Fine Day is the vocal version of Ray Bryant's jazz classic Cubano Chant (also available on jazzleadsheets.com in E-flat minor). I always loved Ray's intro to his 1961 recording of Cubano Chant on his 'Con Alma' album for Columbia Records, so I asked Ray if I could borrow elements of it for my vocal arrangement for Tina May's recording. He said fine. Ray knew he was going to be the pianist on the recording, and soon came to realize that we were going to have to change the key for the singer. At first, he couldn't imagine doing that, but after he acclimated himself to the new key, he liked the challenge, saying he started to hear lots of new ideas, and new ways to play, in the new key."

Lyric Description: One Fine Day, with lyric by L. Aziza Miller, tells of the joy of merging with a new love, one who makes all past sadness disappear, who makes the passing days and nights glow with magic.

No-vocal version: This is the same arrangement minus the vocal melody, and without the solos. There's a 16-bar instrumental introduction that sets the Latin groove, then one time through the melody to the Coda and ending. Here's a clip of Tina May's vocal version CLIP; here's the minus you track CLIP2. A great opportunity to learn the song. Click on the Minus You tab for more tips.

If another key would be better for you, send the key you'd like to Don and we'll post the transposition on the website for purchase. If you're not sure which key is best, send us your range and we'll work with you to figure out the best key.

This lead sheet is also found in our Sing JAZZ! songbook, a collection of stunning, lesser-known vocal selections from the Second Floor Music repertoire (Sing JAZZ! contents).

"Tina May Sings The Ray Bryant Songbook" was recorded at the legendary Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs.

Vocalist Tina may has recorded this title three times. First on her CD "One Fine Day"; next on "Live In Paris" then in 2002 on the "Ray Bryant Songbook" featured here.

Singers' Corner No-vocal version: This is the same arrangement minus the vocal melody, and without the solos. There's a 16-bar instrumental introduction that sets the Latin groove, then one time through the melody to the Coda and ending. Here's a clip of Tina May's vocal version CLIP; here's the minus you track CLIP2. The long introduction is a nice opportunity to try a bit of vocal improvisation to get yourself locked into the feeling.

Both Tina's original and the minus you audio track are in the same key, A minor. There are many software programs available to change the pitch without changing the tempo, if a different key would be better for you. Search "change pitch of music free" on the internet or use something you're familiar with, like GarageBand or Audacity. If you'd like the lead sheet in a different key, send the key you'd like to Don and we'll post the transposition on the website for purchase. If you're not sure which key is best, send us your range and we'll work with you to figure out the best key.