TAKING A CHANCE ON LOVE - Free Jazz Leadsheet

"Taking a Chance on Love" was composed by Vernon Duke with lyrics by John La Touche and Ted Fetter for the 1940 Broadway musical "Cabin in the Sky." The first recording was made in 1940 by Ethel Waters with Eddie Rochester Anderson and the musical’s cast orchestra in New York, echoing the show’s blend of jazz and theatrical styles.

The song soon gained wider prominence through recordings by Benny Goodman featuring Helen Forrest, as well as later interpretations by Ella Fitzgerald and modern vocalists. Its lyrics convey a hopeful leap back into romance after disappointment, supported by a buoyant 32-bar structure. The melody’s rising contours and light syncopation have made it a long-standing favorite among jazz singers and swing-era bands.