so the other night at the first-ever Jazz Casual, we were joined by Pete Gaudioso, a great Philly drummer who has also become a mesmerizing singer. He did a version of Ray Noble’s 1936 standard “The Very Thought of You,” one of those great songbook tunes that hasn’t been over-exposed. (Though, sadly, Rod Stewart did take a chainsaw to it for one of those depressing latter-day records of his.)

I’ve had the song in my head ever since Tuesday night, and just did the obligatory YouTube search for some nice versions. There are hundreds, but these two just completely tore me up — the Nat King Cole for his easygoing, confessional phrasing, the Shirley Horn for the incredibly demanding glacially slow tempo.

Nat King Cole:

Shirley Horn: