Jonathan Karrant - "What a Difference a Day Makes"
Virtuoso Music, 2026 - anticipating the release of Karrant's new recording "Full Circle."
“What a Difference a Day Makes” began as “Cuando vuelva a tu lado” (”When I Return to Your Side”), a passionate 1934 Spanish bolero composed by trailblazing Mexican songwriter María Grever. Her original lyrics captured the bittersweet yearning of a lover anticipating a long-awaited reunion.
Later that same year, American lyricist Stanley Adams adapted the melody into English. Rather than translating Grever’s words, he reimagined the story entirely—shifting the theme from patient longing to the sudden, joyous transformation of falling in love in just twenty-four hours.
While early big band versions enjoyed moderate success, the song became a masterpiece in 1959 through Dinah Washington. By slowing the tempo and blending her gospel-rooted phrasing with a lush string arrangement, Washington created a crossover smash. Her definitive version cracked the mainstream pop Top 10, won a Grammy, and permanently cemented the track as a jazz standard.
Soul singer Esther Phillips once again proved the song's remarkable adaptability in 1975. Today, it remains a rare, dual-identity classic: a cornerstone of the Latin American songbook, as proven by song stylist Jonathan Karrant.
Karrant’s treatment of “What a Difference a Day Makes”—the second single from his upcoming album Full Circle—is earning praise as a vibrant, sophisticated, and highly energetic reimagining of the Great American Songbook standard. Shifting away from a traditional slow ballad format, Karrant delivers a lively, swinging performance packed with “little-big-band” dynamics.
Critics attribute much of the track’s success to the stellar arrangement by acclaimed pianist and musical director Tamir Hendelman. Backed by a premier band featuring Kye Palmer on trumpet, Graham Dechter on guitar, Alex Frank on bass, and Kevin Kanner on drums, the instrumentation provides a rich, driving backdrop. Reviewers note that Karrant’s signature soulful delivery and confident storytelling rise effortlessly to meet this complex arrangement. This performance serves as a testament to Karrant’s artistic growth, highlighting his evolution into a premier song stylist ahead of his 2026 Arkansas Jazz Hall of Fame induction.
