DEAR OLD SOUTHLAND - Free Jazz Leadsheet

"dear old southland" is a jazz standard composed by Turner Layton in 1921, with lyrics by Henry Creamer. The song evokes nostalgic imagery of the American South, blending bluesy sentiment with melodic elegance.

The first notable recording was by Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra in New York City in the early 1920s. Over the decades, the piece has been revisited by jazz artists such as Sidney Bechet, Louis Armstrong, and Fletcher Henderson, each bringing their own lyrical phrasing and instrumental interpretation.

Musically, the tune features a clear, song-form structure with an expressive melody that supports both instrumental solos and vocal interpretations, making it enduringly popular in jazz and swing repertoires.