Moonlight in Vermont

Johnny Smith, 1952. Solo by Johnny Smith.

Close-voiced chord melody alongside Stan Getz; one of the best-selling jazz singles of its decade.

Johnny Smith's Moonlight in Vermont, recorded with Stan Getz, is a showcase for close-voiced chord melody played with extraordinary smoothness. Smith harmonises the tune with tight, often stretched chord shapes, giving the melody a soft, shimmering quality, while Getz's tenor adds a gentle counter-voice. His clean, precise execution makes difficult voicings sound effortless. The track became one of the best-selling jazz singles of its decade and a model for guitarists interested in ballad playing. Listen for how each melody note sits on top of a full chord that moves with it, and how Smith keeps the voicings so even in volume that the harmony feels like a single, glowing texture rather than separate notes.

Moonlight in Vermont by Johnny Smith is featured in our Jazz (#23) list. The solo is played by Johnny Smith and the song was released in 1952.

In our lists

• The Greatest Solo of Every Year — #9
• The 25 Greatest Jazz Guitar Solos — #23

Sources