Origin:

From the 1940 Broadway Musical Two for the Show.

Style:

Nearly always swung, taken at a wide variety of tempos.

Form:

A-B1-A-B2 (32 bars) [8-8-8-8]

Key:

Most commonly played in G Major.

Harmony/Overview:

The  harmony of this composition is very conventional, and has proved to be  immensely popular amongst jazz musicians. The initial theme takes place over a series of descending II-V-I's before arriving at bVIMaj7 in the B sections. The harmony of this tune would go on to serve as the basis for compositions such as Charlie Parker’s “Ornithology” and John Coltrane’s “Satellite”.

Recordings:

This  song has been recorded over 370 times to date. Benny Goodman was the first to record it in 1940. The tune has become synonymous with Ella Fitzgerald as she would use it as a show piece for countless live  performances in her career. As a result it has become immensely popular amongst vocalists, while many instrumentalists continue to perform it to  this day.

JGC Top Picks:

Sonny Stitt, Live at the Hi-Hat ’54, 1954

Ella Fitzgerald, Ella In Berlin, 1960

Joe Pass, Virtuoso, 1973