“My One and Only Love” began in 1947 as “Music from Beyond the Moon,” with music by Guy Wood and a different lyric. Robert Mellin’s new words gave it its name, and Frank Sinatra’s 1953 Capitol B-side, arranged by Nelson Riddle, made it known. Since then every generation of jazz has played it. Here is its journey, from Sinatra to Coltrane to Brecker… all the way to my new recording.
1953
Frank Sinatra, Capitol
Frank Sinatra recorded it for Capitol with Nelson Riddle. The B-side reached No. 28, and the ballad was on its way.
1956
Art Tatum and Ben Webster Quartet
Recorded for Verve on September 11, 1956, one of Art Tatum’s last sessions.
“Art played for me, and I haven’t heard Art play for anybody like he did for me on that date.” - Ben Webster
1962
Ella Fitzgerald, Ella Swings Gently with Nelson
Ella recorded it for Verve, arranged and conducted by Nelson Riddle, who had also arranged Sinatra’s 1953 original.
“…one of the most finely wrought ballads to be written in the postwar period.” - Benny Green, liner notes
1963
John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman
Recorded for Impulse! on March 7, 1963. The album entered the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2013.
“…essential for all jazz collections.” - Scott Yanow, AllMusic
1964
Sonny Rollins, The Standard Sonny Rollins
Sonny Rollins recorded it for RCA Victor with Herbie Hancock on piano. Decades later, Herbie took me on the road with him when I was 19.
1987
Michael Brecker
Recorded for Impulse! with Kenny Kirkland on piano, Pat Metheny, Charlie Haden and Jack DeJohnette.
“My hero.” - Eli Degibri, on Michael Brecker
Also in the timeline
1954: Benny Carter, 3, 4, 5: The Verve Small Group Sessions
1955: Carmen McRae, By Special Request (Decca)
1957: Horace Silver Quintet with Art Farmer and Hank Mobley, The Stylings of Silver (Blue Note)
1962: Grant Green with Ike Quebec, Born to Be Blue (Blue Note, recorded 1962, released 1985)
1965: Wes Montgomery, Bumpin’ (Verve, strings arranged by Don Sebesky)
1965: Nancy Wilson, Gentle Is My Love (Capitol)
1968: Chick Corea with Miroslav Vitouš and Roy Haynes, from the Now He Sings, Now He Sobs sessions
“Throughout the metrically modulating, nine-minute tour de force…”
2026
Eli Degibri
My One and Only Love
My new single is a nine-minute reimagining of this song, recorded with my quartet ❤️
Tenor saxophone - Eli Degibri
Piano - Tom Oren
Bass - Alon Near
Drums - Eviatar Slivnik