The Shadow of Your Smile was written by Johnny Mandel with lyrics by Paul Francis Webster. This piece was composed by Mandel for the 1965 film The Sandpiper, and consequently the tune also became known as “Love Theme from The Sandpiper.” The tunes beautiful melody and flowing harmony attracted artists such as Frank Sinatra, Bill Evans, Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, and Wes Montgomery, who all recorded and performed it. Be sure to listen to vocal versions of the piece and learn the lyrics, as they say so much about this tune. It is often played as a ballad, medium bossa, or even swing, but can be played in any fashion. Check out Oscar Peterson’s recording; he utilizes a bossa feel during the melody and swing during the solos. The Shadow of Your Smile is most commonly called in the key of G major amongst instrumentalists.