NAGASAKI - Free Jazz Leadsheet

“Nagasaki” was composed by Harry Warren with lyrics by Mort Dixon in 1928. It is a lively jazz tune that became a staple of early swing bands, notable for its playful lyrics and catchy, syncopated melody.

The first popular recording was by Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra in 1928, and later versions by Benny Goodman, Fletcher Henderson, and Django Reinhardt helped cement its place in jazz history. The song humorously depicts an imagined vision of life in Nagasaki, Japan, and musically it features a 32-bar AABA form with opportunities for improvisation, making it a favorite in both small combos and big band settings.