Style:

Swing, usually played at medium-up tempos.

Form:

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

Arrangements:

An 8 bar introduction can be heard on Clifford Brown's recording with Max Roach. This arrangement is sometimes included, but not always. Brown's recording with Max Roach also features a brief coda to finish the performance.

Key:

F Major

Harmony/Overview:

The harmony of this composition is very functional and relies almost  entirely on II-V's. A1 begins with IMaj7 and uses a II - V - I in the  2nd bar to generate some movement. In the 4th bar the harmony lands on  IVmi with a II - V of bIII, and deceptively resolves to a III - VI - II -  V that returns back to the tonic. A2 is an exact transposition of the  initial theme only up a semi-tone, helping to brighten the already jovial sounding tune. The C section continues with yet more II - V -  I's, managing to cycle through 4 different key centers total within the 8  section.

Recordings:

This  song has been recorded over 130 times to date and is one of Clifford  Brown's most popular compositions. He first recorded it on the album Clifford Brown & Max Roach in 1954, and he would record again the following week for the album Jazz Immortal.  Many other legendary jazz musicians have recorded the tune since from  the likes of Gil Evans, Toots Thielemans, Stan Getz, and Freddie Hubbard  to name a few.

JGC Top Picks:

Clifford Brown, Clifford Brown and Max Roach, 1954

Joe Pass, Joy Spring, 1964

Freddie Hubbard, Born to be Blue, 1981