NOW'S THE TIME - Free Jazz Leadsheet

“Now's the Time” is a bebop composition by Charlie Parker, written in 1945. The tune became an archetypal example of Parker’s innovative approach to rhythm, blues-based harmony, and improvisation.

The first recording was by the Charlie Parker Quintet in New York City, featuring Parker on alto saxophone and Dizzy Gillespie on trumpet. Built on a 12-bar blues structure, the piece blends simple harmonic foundations with complex melodic improvisation.

Later renditions by Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, and Art Blakey have expanded its influence in modern jazz. The piece conveys an upbeat, assertive character, encouraging instrumentalists to explore phrasing, rhythmic variation, and blues inflection.