Vincent Youmans, music · Irving Caesar, lyrics · From No, No, Nanette
Vincent Youmans and Irving Caesar wrote Tea for Two for No, No, Nanette in 1924. Its compact 32 bars give players room to vary the rhythm and harmony. Hear it in solo piano, small groups, voices, and later guitar settings.
A♭ major · 32 bars · A B A C form · how it works
Start with a sung small group, then hear two solo piano approaches. Trio, saxophone, guitar, bebop and Monk’s later trio take complete the eight steps.
8 recordings, 1933 to 1963 · Play all 8 on YouTube ↗
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Blossom Dearie · 1958 · Vocal
Once Upon a Summertime...
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Fats Waller · 1937
Tea for Two / Keepin’ Out of Mischief Now
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Art Tatum · 1933
Tea for Two / Sophisticated Lady
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The Dave Brubeck Trio · 1949 · Bebop
Blue Moon / Tea for Two
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Lester Young with the Oscar Peterson Trio · 1952
“Tea For Two”, Lester Young with the Oscar Peterson Trio No. 2
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Tal Farlow · 1955 · Bebop, Cool jazz
“Tea For Two”, Tal Farlow's Finest Hour
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Bud Powell Trio · 1950
“Tea for Two (Take 5)”, Piano Interpretations by Oscar Peterson, Art Tatum, Teddy Wilson, Bud Powell
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Thelonious Monk · 1963 · Post-bop
Criss-Cross
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6 more, from 1947 to 2010. Tap a cover to play it here.
1947 · Swing
“Tea for Two (Live At Symphony Hall, Boston, MA/With Applause/1947)”, Satchmo at Symphony Hall
Bigard takes the clarinet feature at Armstrong’s 1947 Symphony Hall concert.
1956 · Bebop, Post-bop
The Unique Thelonious Monk
Monk’s earlier Riverside trio pairs him with Pettiford and Blakey.
1957
“Tea For Two”, Gerry Mulligan–Paul Desmond Quartet
Mulligan’s baritone and Desmond’s alto share a quartet without piano.
1958
Anita O'Day at Mister Kelly's
O'Day sings the tune with a piano trio at Mister Kelly's.
1963 · Big band
Ella and Basie!
Fitzgerald sings over the named Basie players and Quincy Jones’s arrangement.
2010 · Fusion, Avant-garde
“Tea For Two”, Beautiful Dreamers
Frisell records the song with viola and drums, without bass.
The 32 bar iReal Pro form moves through A, B, A and C, each eight bars. Its supplied home key is A♭ major; the last C section closes the cycle.
Chart from iReal Pro's Jazz 1460 playlist, contributed by its users.