THE DUKE - Free Jazz Leadsheet

"The Duke" was composed by Dave Brubeck and first recorded on April 24, 1954, in Los Angeles by the Dave Brubeck Quartet. The tune was written as a tribute to Duke Ellington, honoring Ellington’s influence on modern jazz harmony and orchestration.

A notable later version was recorded by Miles Davis and arranged by Gil Evans for the 1957 album "Miles Ahead," which expanded the piece with Evans’ distinctive orchestral colours. The composition features Brubeck’s characteristic harmonic richness and an elegant melodic line structured in a modified 32-bar form, blending cool-jazz clarity with an affectionate nod to Ellington’s tonal palette.