Free Jazz Standard Sheet Music Downloads

"My Ideal" is a ballad co-composed by Richard A. Whiting and Newell Chase, with lyrics by Leo Robin. Written for the 1930 Paramount film Playboy of Paris, it was introduced on screen by Maurice Chevalier and has since become a beloved standard in the jazz repertoire.

The tune is in E-flat major and follows a 32-bar AABA form. The melody traces graceful, arching phrases that perfectly convey the lyric's wistful longing for an ideal partner. One of the song's notable characteristics is the variety of harmonic interpretations it invites—different artists often reharmonize the changes quite freely, making each performance a unique harmonic journey. The basic framework features diatonic progressions enriched with chromatic passing chords, providing a sophisticated yet approachable harmonic backdrop well suited to ballad interpretation.

Maurice Chevalier's 1930 recording introduced the song. In jazz, Chet Baker's delicate trumpet version from his Pacific Jazz years is widely considered a definitive interpretation. Coleman Hawkins brought a commanding tenor saxophone reading to the tune, while Billie Holiday's emotionally rich vocal performance and Art Tatum's virtuosic piano treatment further demonstrate the song's versatility and depth.