Origin:

Introduced as part of the instrumental score in the 1944 film The Uninvited.

Style:

Usually played swung, taken at a wide variety of tempos.

Form:

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

Key:

Most commonly played in Bb Major.

Harmony/Overview:

A through-composed piece a sophisticated harmonic structure. The tune  begins with a minor II - V of III that is then followed by IIm7 - V7.  Instead of resolving to the tonic however it continues with a II - V of  IVMaj7 before arriving at bVII7. Finally, at the start of the B section the harmony resolves to the tonic for the first time. The climax of the tune is reached in the C section when the melody lands on the b13 of  VI7. A2 begins with a min II - V of III, and proceeds with minor II -  V's resolving down in whole-steps before arriving back at the tonic to end the form.

Recordings:

This is one of the most popular jazz standards of all time and has been recorded over 650 times. It was first introduced as a recurring theme in  the instrumental score of the 1944 film The Uninvited, and Ned Washington would later add lyrics to the composition in 1946. It has since been recorded by virtually every prominent jazz musician at some point in their career, and it continues to be one of the most  widely known jazz standards in the repertoire.

JGC Top Picks:

Charlie Parker, Charlie Parker with Strings: The Master Takes, 1952

Ron Carter, Third Plane, 1977

McCoy Tyner, Supertrios, 1977