DON'T FORGET TO MESS AROUND - Free Jazz Leadsheet

"don't forget to mess around" was composed by Jelly Roll Morton in 1926. This upbeat New Orleans jazz number features playful rhythms, call-and-response patterns, and opportunities for individual improvisation.

The first recording was by Morton and His Red Hot Peppers in Chicago, with piano, cornet, clarinet, and trombone engaging in lively ensemble exchanges. The tune has been revived in traditional jazz ensembles and Dixieland bands over the decades.

The song is structured around a twelve-bar blues form with flexible phrasing for solos, highlighting Morton’s inventive approach to ensemble interplay and making it a favorite for both musicians and audiences seeking energetic, swinging jazz.