EAST ST LOUIS TOODLE-OO - Free Jazz Leadsheet

"east st louis toodle-oo" was composed by Duke Ellington and Bubber Miley in 1926. The tune combines blues and early jazz elements with Ellington’s signature growling trumpet and reed textures, creating a distinctive, urban soundscape.

The first recording was by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra in New York, with Bubber Miley on trumpet and Johnny Hodges on alto saxophone. The song has been revisited by countless jazz ensembles, highlighting its historical and musical significance.

Musically, the piece uses a 12-bar blues structure with riff-based melodic lines, allowing for expressive solos and dynamic ensemble interaction, characteristic of Ellington’s early orchestral style.