I think it's cool...
I guess I'm of the opinion that when you're covering a song you're allowed to use as much artist license as you want...especially a 70 yr old standard that's been done to death as much as autumn leaves. Whether or not it evokes the same atmosphere as the original is irrelevant; it's not the original.
I believe a cover (if you're an
artist) should be as much about you as it is about your subject matter. Put your influences on the table...nothing's sacred.
I dig
Julian Lage's version