HINDUSTAN - Free Jazz Leadsheet

hindustan was composed by W.C. Handy and Harold Weeks in 1918 and became a jazz favorite for its exotic melodic lines and flexible harmonic structure. Its playful rhythms and memorable melody appealed to both dancers and jazz musicians.

Early recordings emphasized swing phrasing, rhythmic drive, and ensemble interplay. Structurally, it allows for improvisation within a 32-bar AABA framework.

Later renditions highlighted melodic storytelling, rhythmic variety, and audience engagement, keeping it a standard in jazz repertoires.