A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing is a jazz ballad composed and arranged by Billy Strayhorn in 1941 for Duke Ellington. The piece is built on a minimalist harmonic ostinato with a chromatic, intimate melody and a subdued, introspective mood. It first appeared in the Ellington-Hodges repertoire and was recorded by the Johnny Hodges All-Stars in 1946; in 1961 Strayhorn recorded an instrumental Paris session for United Artists with the Paris String Quartet, released as part of the album The Peaceful Side of Billy Strayhorn. The composition reflects Strayhorn’s lifelong fascination with France and his elegant, melodic approach to jazz composition. In addition to Strayhorn’s version, the tune became the title track of Vince Guaraldi’s 1957 album A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing, a gentle San Francisco jazz date that showcases Guaraldi’s lyrical piano and light swing.
