Style:

Swing, introduced at a medium up tempo.

Form:

12 Bar Major Blues

Key:

F Major

Harmony/Overview:

This  composition is a Major blues with a II - V turnaround. The melody  however is rather sophisticated, and it includes lots of syncopated  rhythms along with Parker's innovative melodic concept. Miles Davis can  be heard on the original recording playing harmonized lines throughout  the head, and this two part arrangement is often included in  performances.

Recordings:

This  song has been recorded hundreds of times and is one of the most widely  known blues heads amongst instrumentalists. The first recording comes  from Charlie Parker's debut session as a leader for Savoy records in  1945. Bud Powell was originally slated to play piano on the session but  was ultimately unable to make the date. When his backup Sadik Hakim was  also unable to attend Dizzy Gillespie had to play the piano, resulting  in Miles Davis filling in for the role of trumpet. The composition was  dedicated to Parker's then agent Billy Shaw, and it is because of the  initial misspelling on part of the label the tune has come to be known  as "Billie's Bounce" as opposed to Bill's. It remains an immensely  popular blues head, and Parker's solo from the original recording  continues to be studied and emulated intensely by countless generations  of students.

JGC Top Picks:

Red Garland, Dig It!, 1957

George Benson, Giblet Gravy, 1968

Hank Jones, West of 5th, 2006