"Centerpiece" is a 1958

jazz standard Jazz standards are musical compositions that are an important part of the musical repertoire of jazz musicians, in that they are widely known, performed, and recorded by jazz musicians, and widely known by listeners. There is no definitive lis ...

. It was written by

Harry Edison Harry "Sweets" Edison (October 10, 1915 – July 27, 1999) was an American jazz trumpeter and a member of the Count Basie Orchestra. His most important contribution was as a Hollywood studio musician, whose muted trumpet can be heard back ...

and

Jon Hendricks John Carl Hendricks (September 16, 1921 – November 22, 2017), known professionally as Jon Hendricks, was an American jazz lyricist and singer. He is one of the originators of vocalese, which adds lyrics to existing instrumental songs and rep ...

. The song is a love song, with the lyrics indicating that the singer feels incomplete without his lover. Each of the two verses ends with the couplet: :''But nothing's any good without you'' :Cause baby you're my centerpiece''

Covers

Joni Mitchell incorporated the song into a medley, with her own "Harry's House", on her 1975 album ''

The Hissing of Summer Lawns ''The Hissing of Summer Lawns'' is the seventh studio album by the Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, released in 1975. The sessions featured backing from members of the jazz groups the L.A. Express and the Jazz Crusaders. The lead single ...

''. Jazz singer

Roseanna Vitro Roseanna Elizabeth Vitro (born February 28, 1951) is a jazz singer and teacher from Arkansas. Biography Born Roseanna Elizabeth VitroScott Fredrickson and Gary W. Kennedy.Vitro (Wickliffe), Roseanna" In ''The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz'', 2 ...

recorded the song on her 1984 debut LP, '' Listen Here''.

References

1950s jazz standards 1958 songs Jazz compositions in A-flat major {{1950s-jazz-composition-stub

Covers

See also

References