“When You Wish Upon a Star” was written by Leigh Harline and Ned Washington in 1939 for Disney’s “Pinocchio”. The melody is so beautiful that I find it difficult to stray to far from it when improvising.
The song has become an icon of American Culture and has become a jazz standard covered by many artists. My favorite renditions are by Joe Pass and June Christy. Bill Frisell also recently recorded a nice version.
I am playing it on my Benedetto Bucky Pizzarelli model seven string.