I'M SHOOTIN' HIGH - Free Jazz Leadsheet

Written in 1935 by Jimmy McHugh with lyrics by Ted Koehler, "i'm shootin' high" is an upbeat swing-era song blending ambitious optimism with melodic elegance. Its lively rhythm made it popular among big bands and jazz vocalists.

The first recording was by The Chick Webb Orchestra in New York in 1935, featuring Webb’s dynamic arrangements and rhythmic drive. Later notable recordings by Ella Fitzgerald and Benny Goodman helped establish the song as a jazz favorite.

The lyrics express aspirational ambition in both life and love, while musically the song uses a 32-bar AABA form with room for improvisation, particularly in instrumental breaks and melodic embellishments.