BARBADOS - Free Jazz Leadsheet

"Barbados" is a jazz composition written by Charlie Parker in 1948. The tune is built over a 12-bar blues form and showcases Parker’s distinctive bebop phrasing combined with a Caribbean rhythmic feel, suggested by its title. It was first recorded by Parker’s All-Stars in New York City that same year, featuring Miles Davis, John Lewis, Curly Russell, and Max Roach.

Later interpretations by artists such as Sonny Rollins and Art Pepper highlighted the tune’s relaxed groove and inventive melodic contours. Its simple blues structure makes it a favorite among improvisers, while the melodic line—alternating between smooth phrases and sharp accents—captures Parker’s signature balance of intellect and spontaneity.

Though concise in form, "Barbados" remains an important example of Parker’s ability to merge accessible rhythmic ideas with bebop’s harmonic sophistication, creating a piece that bridges both innovation and danceable swing.