Free Jazz Standard Sheet Music Downloads

"But Beautiful" is a 1947 ballad composed by Jimmy Van Heusen with lyrics by Johnny Burke, introduced by Bing Crosby in the Paramount film Road to Rio. It quickly became a core ballad in the jazz repertoire.

The song is in G major and follows a 32-bar ABAB' form, almost invariably performed at a slow ballad tempo. Its lovely melody gravitates toward tension notes such as 9ths and 13ths over its harmonic foundation, lending a bittersweet quality that perfectly complements the lyric's meditation on love's contradictions—beautiful yet heartbreaking, joyful yet sad. The harmonic progression takes the listener through engaging tonal territory, making it a deeply satisfying vehicle for both singers and instrumentalists seeking expressive depth.

Among the most celebrated recordings is the version by Tony Bennett and Bill Evans on The Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Album (1975). Also essential is the live recording by Stan Getz and Bill Evans from 1974, released as the album But Beautiful (1996). Billie Holiday's rendition on Lady in Satin (1958) offers a deeply emotional vocal interpretation.