Origin:

Introduced by the Isham Jones' Orchestra.

Style:

Swing, played at a wide variety of tempos.

Form:

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

Key:

Most commonly played in Bb Major, also sometimes taken in Eb.

Harmony/Overview:

The harmony of this composition is very functional. The A sections begin on IMaj7, and continue with IV9 in the 2nd bar. Bars 3-4 can be treated as a III7 - VI7, although they are more commonly approached with bVII7 - VI7 (tri-tone substitution). A1 and A2 are nearly identical, although both sections end slightly differently. The bridge takes place predominantly in the relative minor, using minor II-V's to repeatedly  resolve to VImi before making its way back to the tonic again.

Recordings:

This song has been recorded over 300 times to date. It was first introduced by Isham Jones and his Orchestra with Woody Herman on vocal in 1936, and  has since been recorded by virtually every prominent jazz musician at  some point in their career. It continues to be a popular standard in the repertoire and manages to be performed frequently to this day.

JGC Top Picks:

Sonny Rollins, Way Out West, 1957

McCoy Tyner, Inception, 1962

Miles Davis, Four and More, 1964