A HANDFUL OF STARS - Free Jazz Leadsheet

'A Handful of Stars' was composed by Jack Lawrence and Ted Shapiro and published in 1940. The song's first known recording was by Kay Kyser and his orchestra, featuring a smooth, melodic arrangement that highlighted its romantic lyrics and flowing lines.

Later recordings by Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and jazz instrumentalists have emphasized its elegance and lyrical charm, making it a popular ballad and jazz standard in intimate small-group settings.

The melody is gentle and lyrical, with harmonies that allow for expressive phrasing and improvisation. Lyrically, the song conveys a sense of wonder, longing, and romantic idealism.