BUDO - Free Jazz Leadsheet

“budo” was composed by bud powell (with credit given also to miles davis) and first recorded on January 21, 1949, in New York City by the miles davis nonet for the sessions later collected on “birth of the cool.” The piece has been kept alive in jazz repertoire through numerous revivals and its inclusion in landmark albums of the cool jazz era.

The song conveys subtle sophistication and relaxed swing‑inflected motion. Musically, it is built on a 32‑bar aaba form with a blues‑inflected feel, featuring a clear head melody followed by improvisational choruses, making it appealing for small ensemble jazz contexts.