ONE NOTE SAMBA - Free Jazz Leadsheet

“One Note Samba” (Portuguese: Samba de Uma Nota Só) was composed by Antonio Carlos Jobim with lyrics by Newton Mendonça in 1959. It became a bossa nova standard blending Brazilian rhythms with jazz harmonies.

Early recordings include João Gilberto and later Stan Getz, emphasizing the song’s distinctive single-note motif in the melody. The tune’s structure allows for melodic improvisation over its harmonically rich chord changes.

Its syncopated rhythm and subtle harmonic shifts make it a favorite for vocalists and instrumentalists alike in jazz and bossa nova contexts.