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Who can solve it's mystery, wondered the great Cole Porter. Well, not me...nor would I want to...I just thought it was timely since February has that special date between the 13th and 15th beloved of florists, greeting card manufacturers, chocolatiers and restaurants everywhere. I am not being cynical, as I am a hopeless romantic who can watch "When Harry Met Sally", "Truly, Madly, Deeply" and "Working Girl" over and over...

Moreen Murray

But what does this have to do with jazz you may ask? A lot as it happens....have you noticed that jazz is often used as the music of romance or seduction in films? Why even in "Jerry Maguire" when Tom Cruise is wooing Renee Zellweger what is that music in the background? None other than Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue"...yup. Of course "When Harry Met Sally" features one Mr. Harry Connick.....

I'm going to let you know a few of my favourite tunes when it comes to the subject of love and perhaps you will share yours

What makes me swoon, conjures up the fluttery feeling of being under the spell? Johnny Hartman and "My One and Only Love" - accompanied by the great John Coltrane, what could be better? Kurt Elling singing "The Very Thought of You"...sigh. Actually Kurt has a whole album called "This Time It's Love" - and two more favourites "My Foolish Heart" and "Everytime We Say Goodbye". Kurt did one of the loveliest renditions I've heard live a few years ago here in Toronto of "Polka Dots and Moonbeams" with the Toronto Jazz Orchestra.

I really need to get Frank Sinatra's "Songs for Swingin' Lovers" on CD - it was in heavy rotation on vinyl - plus, loved the retro album cover - tons of great standards including a quintessential version of Cole Porter's "I've Got You Under My Skin"

Let's hear from the ladies....a recording which I never tire of is Irene Kral's "Where is Love" and the haunting "When I Look In Your Eyes", the sweet tentative "I Like You, You're Nice" (written by the wonderful Blossom Dearie). Miss Peggy Lee's clever "I Don't Know Enough About You" always brings a smile and I find the recent Diana Krall CD "Quiet Nights" to be very sultry, like a tropical evening. Closer to home Diana Panton's CD "Yesterday, Perhaps" features the beautiful "Summer Me, Winter Me" and "That Old Feeling"....

Blossom Dearie

Things are not always smooth on the path of romance though, in that case, if you're feeling blue you can find the sentiments in the classic "I'm a Fool to Want You" (particularly as sung by one Mr. Frank Sinatra about Ava Gardner) or "In the Wee Small Hours". Billie Holliday is particularly effective on either end - the highs and lows - "What a Little Moonlight Can Do" to "Good Morning Heartache". A couple of humorous takes - "Down with Love" as sung by Blossom Dearie and "Peel Me a Grape" - see how far your new love will go to please you.

The greatest theme I love in standards is hope....and sap that I am I would venture to say one of my most swoon worthy is again a Michel Legrand number "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?" I first heard this as an instrumental version on my brother's Woody Herman album "Giant Steps" and it has been used to sell diamonds, where I first heard the Dusty Springfield wistful vocal, still my favourite rendition.

And this special day would not be complete without "My Funny Valentine" - there are numerous recordings of this tune but my vote goes to Chet Baker's yearning, poignant version. As you can see there is no shortage of material for this much written about subject one it seems we never tire of that's for sure, and I know I will be thinking of more tunes after this is printed.

Safe to say we do enjoy being "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered". I send you love on Valentine's and every day of the year.