GRANDPA'S SPELLS - Free Jazz Leadsheet

grandpa's spells was composed by Jelly Roll Morton in 1923 and is celebrated for its imaginative piano writing and dynamic rhythmic shifts. The tune reflects the playful, experimental side of early jazz.

The first recording was by Jelly Roll Morton and His Red Hot Peppers in Chicago, 1923, featuring a mix of ragtime, blues, and jazz phrasing. Its structure blends multiple short sections with contrasting tempos and motifs, allowing for improvisation.

Later pianists and jazz ensembles revisited it for its inventive harmonic and rhythmic language. The composition conjures imagery and storytelling through musical gestures, making it engaging for both performers and listeners.