song: Tenderly
artist: Johnny Smith Quintet (feat. Stan Getz)
album: Jazz at NBC (1953) + Moonlight in Vermont (1956)
writers: Music by Walter Gross / Lyrics by Jack Lawrence (1946)

electric archtop guitar: Johnny Smith
tenor saxophone: Stan Getz
upright/double bass: Eddie Safranski

(drums: Don Lamond)

This is a complete transcription (excluding drums) of this Johnny Smith classic recording of “Tenderly”. This Jazz standard made its first popular appearance as sung by Sarah Vaughan, for whom it became a hit in 1947. By then, it was played in the originally intended time signature of 3/4 (waltz), which soon evolved into the triadic 4/4 feeling played on Johnny Smith’s later recording. This particular recording originates from the 1952–53 recordings (5/12/1952, to be exact) by the jazz record label Roost Records, which released it on the second LP of the, Johnny Smith Quintet – Jazz at NBC (1953). It was later released under the artist name of Johnny Smith Quintet (featuring Stan Getz) on the successful 1956 compilation album, Moonlight in Vermont. This recording famously features saxophonist Stan Getz, who was the slightly bigger name on the record label at he time; hence, the recording is often still catalogued under his artist name. The star of this recording, however, is certainly guitarist Johnny Smith with his incredible arrangement of melodic chord playing. His effortlessness here comes from practice, and this piece has indeed been practiced by generations of jazz guitarists. Enjoy this gem of Jazz history!