You Take My Breath Away is one of the most delicate and romantic pieces I recorded for Chris Missen’s 2025 album, Saudade Stories. It’s a Latin-Jazz ballad with a cinematic, lyrical mood that balances emotional intimacy with refined instrumental interplay.

For this arrangement, I layered piano, vibraphone, violin, and nylon-string guitar, with lush harmonies weaving throughout. The vibraphone adds a shimmering glow, often doubling the piano to enhance its warmth and clarity, while the violin and nylon guitar bring a gentle elegance and a subtle Latin flavour that gives the track its distinctive character.

This track leans toward a more expressive and stylised sound compared to the album’s rootsier songs, letting each instrument breathe in a way that feels both intimate and expansive.

Want to hear a different perspective on this song? Check out my isolated piano and keyboard arrangement here.

Music & lyrics by Chris Missen

Musicians:

Chris Missen - Vocals, nylon-string guitar, bass, drum programming

Lisha Kayrooz - Piano, vibraphone, pizzicato strings, nylon-string guitar fills, arrangement

Maria Grigoryeva - Violin