In A Dream – Norman Simmons

In A Dream is a great example of the lyrical side of Norman Simmons. This song is almost in the style of a Great American Songbook standard, but spiced with a few unpredictable harmonic shifts. The form is 40-measure AABCD, with C being similar to the first A. The A section begins with a diatonic melody in E♭ with several tasteful passing chords, on the second A, B7 in the sixth measure is used to briefly modulate to E major. The bridge begins with a pedal point in G major before modulating again to B♭ and A. The E section eventually ends up back in E followed by some parallel major chords leading back to E♭.

The lyricism and relative simplicity of the melody really holds this song together and makes all the modulations particularly smooth and subtle, emphasizing the album's title, "The Heat And The Sweet."

This recording begins with a chorus in 3/4, with the piano playing the melody. The last four measures switch to 4/4 (a metric modulation in which the measures keep the same speed), and the tenor sax comes in for the melody again in 4/4. Though written in 4/4 on our lead sheet, this song works equally well in both meters.