"Top Hat" is a transcription of the original Paul Weston chart, as recorded on Ella's "Irving Berlin Songbook" album, and it is a really cool, swingin' chart. We have scored the vocal "as sung" by Ella, and whilst there are no solos in the band, the chart features your Pianist playing rhythmic fill lines high on the keyboard. Unusually, the opening verse of Berlin's tune is featured in the middle of the chart in the sort of place that one might expect to hear a tutti band chorus, and this concept works very well. There are no sax doubles and the vocal key is Ab, modulating to Eb for the central verse, reverting to Ab for the final chorus. Duration: 2:30 Grade: Medium
