Origin:

Published by Jerome H. Remick in 1926.

Style:

Usually taken at a medium-up tempo swing.

Form:

A1-A2-B-A3 (32 Bars) [8-8-8-8]

Verse:

A-A-B-A (32 Bars) [8-8-8-8]

Seldom  played. The first recording by Sam Lanin’s Orchestra features an  instrumental rendition of the verse, and Gene Austin was the first  vocalist to record it the same year. Several other recordings from 1926  also feature it, from the likes of Josephine Baker, Irving Kaufman, and  Nick Lucas to name a few.

Key:

Usually played in F Major, however many early recordings take varying keys.

Harmony/Overview:

The  simplicity of the melodic content gives this composition an almost  'folk-song' aesthetic. The harmony is also especially diatonic and  remains very conservative throughout. Although it was not used on the  original recording, the beginning of the bridge is often played with  descending Dominant 7th chords. Miles Davis’ recording from his 1957  release ‘Round About Midnight has  been very influential for generations of jazz musicians, and he begins  the bridge with an elongated IIImi7b5 – VI7 which resolves to IImi7 in  the 5th bar. He then finishes the section by inserting a II – V of bIII  before the final II – V back to the tonic.

Recordings:

This  song has been recorded over 440 times and was first recorded in 1926 by  Sam Lanin’s Dance Orchestra. Ultimately, Miles Davis’ 1956 recording is  responsible for solidifying the song’s lasting influence amongst jazz  musicians, and his rendition has been highly influential in the way  countless generations have approached the tune since.

JGC Top Picks:

Miles Davis, At Newport 1958

John Coltrane, Live in Paris, 1962

Julie London, In Person at The Americana, 1964