STAIRWAY TO THE STARS - Free Jazz Leadsheet

stairway to the stars, composed by Matty Malneck and Frank Signorelli with lyrics by Mitchell Parish in 1939, is a romantic ballad with a dreamy, sophisticated harmonic palette. Its melodic elegance has made it a staple in jazz and popular music repertoires.

The first recording was by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra in 1939, highlighting lush orchestration and expressive phrasing. Later versions by Ella Fitzgerald and Nat King Cole emphasized vocal interpretation and jazz improvisation.

The musical structure follows a 32-bar AABA form, with flowing harmonic progressions and lyrical melodies that provide room for nuanced phrasing, instrumental solos, and expressive interpretation of the romantic lyrics.