HOW LONG HOW LONG BLUES - Free Jazz Leadsheet

Composed by Leroy Carr and published in 1928, "how long how long blues" is a seminal blues piece that blends narrative storytelling with expressive melody. The lyrics express longing and personal struggle, central themes in the blues tradition.

The first recording, made by Leroy Carr with Scrapper Blackwell on guitar in Chicago, 1928, features a relaxed, conversational vocal over steady blues guitar, establishing a model for future urban blues performances.

The song has been revisited by countless blues and jazz musicians, notable for its 12-bar blues structure and smooth melodic phrasing, making it an enduring example of early blues sophistication.