The lyrics of Ochi chyornye (in English: black eyes) were written by the Ukrainian poet and writer Yevhen Hrebinka and were first published as a poem on January 17, 1843. Later, German Florian Hermann composed “Valse Hommage“, set Hrebinka’s words into this romance and published it on March 7, 1884. Feodor Chaliapin popularised the song abroad in a version amended by himself. Although this song had originally nothing to do with jazz, it became a jazz standard under the name “Dark Eyes” or in French “Les yeux noir“. Let’s have a look at a version by American trumpeter and singer Wingy Manone (Feb. 13, 1900 – July 9, 1982): [...]
