CHICAGO BREAKDOWN - Free Jazz Leadsheet

“chicago breakdown” was composed and recorded by Jelly Roll Morton in 1926. The session featured Morton’s distinctive piano style—combining ragtime roots, blues inflection, and early swing sensibilities—and helped document the developing Chicago jazz sound.

The piece uses a succession of driving strains with strong rhythmic figures, leaving space for improvisatory embellishment. Its mixture of written passages and loose, blues-based material makes it a favorite for traditional-jazz ensembles.