Style:

Swing, typically played at an up tempo.

Form:

A-B (24 Bars) [16-8]

Arrangements:

The head is played twice on the way in and out. The bass player typically doubles the melody during the A sections of the head, and is usually the  first to take a solo.

Key:

G Major

Harmony/Overview:

The harmony of this composition is non-functional. The changes move in  parallel motion extensively and are made up nearly entirely of Maj7#11 chords. The first chord is F#mi7b5 and it is common to hear the chord  scale 'Locrian ♮9' used during the solos as opposed to the Locrian scale as derived from Major.  The composition has an almost modal quality  with all of the chords in the A sections lasting 4 bars each. The B  section cycles through Maj7#11 chords; down minor 3rds and up minor 2nds  repeatedly. It is common to hear the DbMaj7 in the final 4 bars of the A section treated as a Maj7#9, as heard by McCoy Tyner on the original recording from Inner Urge.

Recordings:

This  composition is one of Joe Henderson's most popular and has been recorded over 70 times to date. The first recording comes form Joe Henderson's album Inner Urge, released in 1966. It has since become a main stay in the repertoire as a song that is particularly unique and challenging.

JGC Top Picks:

Joe Henderson, Inner Urge, 1964

Allan Holdsworth, None Too Soon, 1994

Roy Haynes, Whereas, 2006