AMERICAN PATROL - Free Jazz Leadsheet

"American Patrol," composed by F.W. Meacham in 1885, gained prominence as a patriotic march and later as a jazz favorite. The first jazz recording was by Glenn Miller in New York, adapting the traditional march to a swing arrangement.

The tune has been performed by military bands, jazz orchestras, and small combos alike, valued for its adaptability and rhythmic drive. Lyrically, it is typically instrumental, celebrating national pride and ceremonial pageantry.

Musically, it blends march structure with swing elements, incorporating call-and-response motifs and opportunities for improvisation in jazz settings.