NATURE BOY - Free Jazz Leadsheet

“Nature Boy” was composed by eden ahbez and first recorded by nat king cole in 1948. The song’s mystical lyrics and minor-key melody contributed to its immediate popularity and enduring status as a jazz standard.

The original recording took place in los angeles with nat king cole and his trio, and subsequent interpretations by artists including Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Ella Fitzgerald have emphasized its ethereal, introspective qualities. Structurally, the tune uses a 32-bar AABA form in a minor key, with a melody that floats above a rich harmonic backdrop, evoking a timeless, philosophical message about love and life.