“Autumn Leaves” is one of the most recorded jazz standards of all time, with notable interpretations by artists such as Nat King Cole, Miles Davis, Edith Piaf, and Frank Sinatra. According to researcher Philippe Baudoin, the song has been recorded nearly 1,400 times; however, this live performance by the late Eva Cassidy is one of the most captivating versions ever captured on film.
This clip is from a 1996 performance at the Blues Alley jazz supper club in Washington, D.C. Cassidy, a native of the United States capital, frequently graced the venue’s stage with her unique blend of jazz, folk, and blues.
Although jazz artists like saxophonist Cannonball Adderley used the song as a springboard for improvisation, Cassidy brought the song back to its roots, focusing more on the heart of the composition and its arresting melody.
“Autumn Leaves” was originally written by Joseph Kosma in 1945 under the title “Les feuilles mortes,” which literally translates to “The Dead Leaves.” It was composed for the ballet Le Rendez-Vous with French lyrics written by Jacques Prévert. The song would not become a hit in North America until after legendary lyricist Johnny Mercer penned an English version.
The lyrics were not the only revisions over the years.
“Over the years since its first publication, the composition has undergone several adjustments. The verse is a 24-bar AA’B form, though originally it was written in twelve bars,” Baudoin explains. “The AA’BC form chorus was originally written in sixteen bars, but is now commonly seen as a 32-bar structure. The tune is usually played in 4/4 at a medium tempo in the key of G minor, although the original edition is in A minor.”
In this black and white video, Cassidy sings the song in Db to fit her vocal range. She uses a capo on the 1st fret to utilize standard chord shapes, although her fingerstyle accompaniment adds a lushness to the arrangement. According to guitarist Keith Grimes, her use of simple chords was out of necessity, but that adds to the magic.
“I really like the fact that she doesn’t use the normal chords to ‘Autumn Leaves.’ There’s a set of chords that 99% of the population is out there playing, and Eva does something that’s just slightly different,” he says on Cassidy’s official website. “It’s refreshing. I know it’s because the minor seven flat five that’s in there, that most people play, is a chord that she didn’t know. But, you know, the Beatles were the kings of that, like ‘I don’t know how to do it right so I’m just going to do it my way,’ and they’d come up with something even more creative.”
After she sings through the melody, an off-camera piano takes a simple yet powerful solo over the form. Cassidy then returns to the bridge, or B section, of the song. This is a typical arrangement style for jazz ballads.
The blend of her soulful vocal, folky guitar, and jazz-minded approach to the song is a perfect example of what made Eva Cassidy so special. Sadly, she passed away months after this recording from melanoma, but her legacy continues to this day.
Watch her spellbinding performance and follow along with the sheet music for “Autumn Leaves”:
