Sigmund Romberg, music · Oscar Hammerstein II, lyrics · From the 1928 operetta The New Moon
Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise is a minor-key song from Sigmund Romberg and Oscar Hammerstein II's 1928 operetta The New Moon, first written as a tango. Players like it because the 32 bars are built mostly from one repeated minor ii–V–i turn, which is easy to learn and leaves room to stretch out, and it became a jam-session regular. You will hear it on Sonny Rollins's 1957 Village Vanguard set, on the Modern Jazz Quartet's Concorde, and on John Coltrane's live recording from 1961.
▶ Plays the whole path: 8 recordings in order. Use the player's next button to skip ahead.
Thirty-two bars in AABA. Each A section is two four-bar minor ii–V–i turns in C minor, resolving to Cm7. The bridge opens in E♭, the relative major, for four bars, then runs through Fm7 and a diminished chord to the dominant, G7♭9, and back to C minor. The last A repeats the first.
The changes as a simplified fake-book chart in C minor. The A sections repeat one minor ii–V–i; the bridge is the only part that leaves it.
Fake books vary. A common swap puts A♭7 in for the Dm7♭5 and G7 before Cm7. The bridge has a second spelling that links E♭maj7, E°7, Fm7, G♭°7 and G7 with diminished passing chords. The last A is written like the first so the chart loops; players usually end on Cm7. The A sections follow a simplified online chart and the bridge follows Jeremy Kahn's reading of the fake-book version, so check both against a printed lead sheet before relying on them.
Eight versions, from a sung chorus to a 2022 piano trio. Each adds one thing to listen for and one thing to try.
Step 1 · Learn the song
“Softly As In a Morning Sunrise”, Something Cool
Step 2 · Hear the song arranged
Concorde
Step 3 · Hear the changes without a piano
A Night at the Village Vanguard
Step 4 · Follow the changes in a piano trio
“Softly As In a Morning Sunrise”, Sonny Clark Trio
Step 5 · Hear the song stretched out
"Live" at the Village Vanguard
Step 6 · Hear a working rhythm section
“Softly, As In a Morning Sunrise”, Kelly Blue
Step 7 · Hear it on guitar
“Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise”, Alone Together
Step 8 · Hear a recent take
StandArt
“Softly, As In a Morning Sunrise”, Bluebird 78 rpm single
The 1938 recording that helped bring the song into jazz, arranged by Jerry Gray.
“Softly, As In a Morning Sunrise”, Abbey Is Blue
A jazz singer with a small group and Kenny Dorham on trumpet.
“Softly, As In a Morning Sunrise”, Gettin' Together!
Art Pepper with the Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers and Jimmy Cobb rhythm section, recorded in Los Angeles.
“Softly as in a Morning Sunrise”, In Person Saturday Night at the Blackhawk, Complete
Miles Davis live in San Francisco with the Wynton Kelly rhythm section.
“Softly As In A Morning Sunrise”, Unity
An organ-led Blue Note session with Joe Henderson, Woody Shaw and Elvin Jones on the album.
“Softly As In A Morning Sunrise”, I Remember
Dianne Reeves sings it on her Blue Note album I Remember, with bassist Charnett Moffett.
“Softly As in a Morning Sunrise”, Beyond This Place
A short piano and drums reading from Barron's 2024 album.