Rainbow Over Harlem (vocal) – Jon Burr
This dreamy medium swing has a lyric describing the majestic beauty of New York. Available in keys for both male and female singers.
- Recording: Jon Burr - Just Can't Wait
- Recorded on: 2009
- Label: JBQ (2005)
- Concert Key: A minor, C minor
- Vocal Range: Tenor, A3 to E5 written 8va
- Style: Swing (medium)
- Vocals - Ty Stephens
- Trumpet - Dominic Farinacci
- Tenor Sax - Mario Cruz
- Piano - Loston Harris
- Bass - Jon Burr
- Drums - Dave Gibson
0:00
0:00
Video
- Ty Stephens sings Jon Burr's "Rainbow Over Harlem" at the Jazz Standard, NYC, October 23, 2007. Accompanied by Don Sickler, trumpet; Bruce Williams, sax; Renee Rosnes, piano; Jon Burr, bass; Victor Lewis, drums.
If you'd like to sing a laid-back swing with an alluring melody, Rainbow Over Harlem is the perfect choice for you. This melody is slightly challenging and will work out the ear skills of less-experienced vocalists, but the reward of learning such a captivating melody is well worth it. Our audio excerpt begins at the vocal entrance (after the introduction notated on the lead sheet) and continues through the entire melody, fading out right before the solos begin. This lead sheet is available in C minor, the original key in which it was recorded, which is suitable for baritones, or A minor, our female-friendly key, which suits a mezzo-soprano range.
Lyric Description: Jon's lyric describes a dramatic après-storm scene in New York City: as the sky clears, a rainbow glows over the uptown horizon.
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.
Lyric Description: Jon's lyric describes a dramatic après-storm scene in New York City: as the sky clears, a rainbow glows over the uptown horizon.
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 composition was first recorded instrumentally in 1991, when Jon was a member of the Roland Hanna Quartet. That recording featured Roland soloing (piano)
; Roland liked it as a medium groove arrangement and ended it by vamping and fading on the first two measures of Jon's coda. Jon recorded it again on his own album in 1993; see and hear details of that recording here. Sixteen years after the first recording, Jon recorded Rainbow Over Harlem again, this time with his own lyric, as featured here.
; Roland liked it as a medium groove arrangement and ended it by vamping and fading on the first two measures of Jon's coda. Jon recorded it again on his own album in 1993; see and hear details of that recording here. Sixteen years after the first recording, Jon recorded Rainbow Over Harlem again, this time with his own lyric, as featured here. 
Jon Burr
born on May 22, 1953
Renowned bassist Jon Burr is a mainstay in the New York scene. At the age of 16 Charles Mingus asked him to sit in on bass at the Village Vanguard and Jon has steadily risen in the jazz world since then. He has worked alongside many of the jazz giants while cultivating his own unique sound. His early discography shows us that he hit the ground running upon arrival in the Big Apple, and includes recordings with Buddy Rich and Chet Baker. Read more...