Style:

Introduced as a slow swing, it has come to be taken at a wide variety of tempos.

Form:

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

Key:

E minor

Harmony/Overview:

The harmony of this composition is very unconventional. The A sections revolve primarily around E minor, although they end momentarily in  Double Harmonic Major. This tonality is not commonly used, and it  provides the composition with a very unique character. In the 2nd bar on  the original recording the harmony moves from FMaj7 - EMaj7, however oftentimes only FMaj7 is used. Bill Evans contributed a counter melody  in bars 3-4 and his arrangement has come to commonly be included in  performances. The bridge takes place in bVI Major and is much more  straightforward, moving from VImi - IVMaj7 before a IImi7 - V7 - IMaj7.  There are also several orchestrated shots that are used during the head and they are typically played by the rhythm section.

Recordings:

This song has been recorded over 150 times. It was first introduced on the album Portrait of Cannonball in 1958. Bill Evans would soon after record the tune as a leader on his album Explorations in 1961 and he would keep it in his repertoire well throughout his career,  leaving behind over 30 different recordings total. It continues to be  performed frequently to this day.

JGC Top Picks:

Joe Henderson, The Kicker, 1967

Mike Stern, Standards (And Other Songs), 1992

Quest, Quest Live in Paris 2010, 2010