11 September 2025
Newsdesk
The song “The Way You Look Tonight” is a legendary piece of music history. Written by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields, it was first performed by Fred Astaire in the 1936 film Swing Time, winning an Academy Award, and was later popularized by Frank Sinatra. It has been covered by a multitude of artists – big and small – including an array as diverse as Billie Holiday, Tony Bennett, Doris Day, and Lady Gaga. It has been featured in over a dozen movies, including Chinatown, My Best Friend’s Wedding, Father of the Bride, and even National Lampoon’s Vegas Vacation.
Of all its many versions then, it is remarkable that the new smooth jazz version of this old standard manages to find such a refreshing new take. Produced by Annie Malee and featuring smooth jazz superstars Nathan Mitchell on keys and Quintin Gerard W. on sax, this cover of “The Way You Look Tonight” is a little bit bossa nova, a little bit funk, and a whole lotta groove. The innovative arrangement by Georgi Manga provides plenty of space for both the keyboard kinetics and the sax stylings to shine, with both Mitchell and Gerard playing like they’re having plenty of fun.
The rest of the artists on the track sparkle as well. Manga provides an effective, pulsating bottom on drums and bass. And Annie Malee brings the heat with breathy, alluring whisper tones.
The whole thing works incredibly well. It’s effective as a standalone single, sure to please the ears of smooth jazz fans everywhere. But it also works as an extremely creative entry into the canon of “The Way You Look Tonight” incarnations.
It plays with many different smooth jazz themes in a single song, tying them all together cohesively enough to honor the spirit of the old standard but with enough new pizazz to clearly set this version apart. It’s a standout and, like the original, sure to stand the test of time.
Image Credit: Melania Vandervelt
