THE JITTERBUG WALTZ - Free Jazz Leadsheet

"The Jitterbug Waltz" was composed by Fats Waller in 1942 and first recorded on March 16 of that year in New York with Waller on Hammond organ. Unusual for the period, the tune blended a dance-oriented feeling with a 3/4 meter, making it one of the earliest well-known jazz waltzes.

The piece gained new attention in the modern jazz era through recordings by Art Tatum, Teddy Wilson, and later by jazz ensembles exploring waltz-time improvisation. Its whimsical melody and shifting harmonies give it a distinct character, while its 16-bar sections create a graceful, circular motion that encourages inventive phrasing.