Style:

Swing, usually played at a medium up tempo.

Form:

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

Key:

Ab Major

Harmony/Overview:

The  harmony of this composition is very conventional, especially in comparison to many of Thelonious Monk's other compositions. The A sections begin on the relative minor and feature the minor cliché of mi -  miMaj7 - mi7 before a II7 - V7 leads to the tonic Major. A I - VI - II -  V turnaround is then used to generate movement back to the tonic before a minor II - V leads to the relative minor once again. The B section  consists of only two chords and moves from IVmi to bVI7 of VImi. The 3rd and 4th bars of the bridge also feature a counter-melody that is almost always played.

Recordings:

This  song has been recorded over 160 times to date. It was first recorded by Thelonious Monk in 1947on a session for Blue Note Records. He would record and perform it many times throughout his career, with a  particularly legendary rendition from the album Misterioso in 1958.

JGC Top Picks:

Thelonious Monk, Misterioso, 1958

Joshua Redman & Brad Mehldau, Nearness, 2016

Ari Hoenig, NY Standard, 2018