Style:

Swing, usually played at a medium-up tempo.

Form:

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

Arrangements:

Charlie Parker's original recording features a short outro that is 8 bars long and revolves around V7#9. This arrangement is also sometimes used as an  introduction.

Key:

F Major

Harmony/Overview:

The harmony in the A sections is based on the changes to Fats Waller's "Honeysuckle Rose". Charlie Parker was rather fond of these changes, using them as the basis for several of his compositions such as  "Ah-Leu-Cha" and "Marmaduke" to name a few. The bridge is identical to that of a rhythm changes, borrowed from George Gershwin's "I Got  Rhythm". It begins on III7 and cycles through Dominant 7th's before returning back to the tonic.

Recordings:

This  song has been recorded over 140 times to date. Charlie Parker first recorded in on a session for Dial Records in 1947, and he also left behind a few live recordings of the tune. It has gone on to become one  of Charlie Parker's most cherished compositions and it has been recorded by many leading musicians throughout the years, from the likes of saxophone titans such as Sonny Stitt, Dexter Gordon, and Phil Woods to name a few.

JGC Top Picks:

Sonny Stitt with Oscar Peterson, Sonny Stitt Sits in with the Oscar Peterson Trio, 1959

Dexter Gordon, Our Man in Paris, 1963

Tom Harrell, Moon Alley, 1985