THE JEEP IS JUMPIN' - Free Jazz Leadsheet

"The Jeep Is Jumpin'" was composed by Duke Ellington, Johnny Hodges, and Billy Strayhorn and first recorded by the Duke Ellington Orchestra on March 15, 1938, in New York. Featuring Hodges prominently, the debut recording highlighted the band’s tightly swinging ensemble passages alongside expressive solo work.

The tune has remained a favorite in Ellington repertory revivals and has been recorded by numerous small groups focusing on Hodges’ melodic style. Built on a fast, riff-driven swing framework, the piece uses a blues-inflected 32-bar form that lends itself to virtuosic improvisation and energetic ensemble writing.