STELLA BY STARLIGHT - Free Jazz Leadsheet

stella by starlight, composed by Victor Young in 1944 with lyrics by Ned Washington, originated as an instrumental for a film score before becoming a jazz standard. Its sweeping melody and rich harmonic structure have made it a favorite among instrumentalists and vocalists.

The first recording was an instrumental by Victor Young and His Orchestra, and later notable versions by Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, and Bill Evans expanded its reach in the jazz repertoire.

The song’s structure is an extended 32-bar form with complex chord changes, offering opportunities for harmonic improvisation and lyrical interpretation, while the melody conveys romantic longing and sophistication.