GEORGIA GRIND - Free Jazz Leadsheet

georgia grind was composed by Spencer Williams in 1926 and quickly became a popular jazz and blues tune, noted for its catchy melody and swinging rhythm. Its chord progression allows for improvisation while maintaining a strong sense of groove.

The first recording was by King Oliver’s band in Chicago in 1926, featuring interplay between brass and reed instruments over a syncopated rhythm section. Structurally, the tune is based on a 16-bar blues form with room for embellishment.

Later recordings by Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong, and various swing bands have kept the song in circulation. Lyrically, it expresses playful, flirtatious themes, complementing its lively and engaging musical style.