NEW ORLEANS FUNCTION - Free Jazz Leadsheet

“New Orleans Function” is a traditional jazz piece associated with the early New Orleans style, often performed in parades and social functions. Its composer is not definitively known, as it evolved from collective improvisation practices among early jazz musicians in the 1910s–1920s.

The earliest documented recordings include renditions by King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band and Jelly Roll Morton. The piece is structured around 16-bar strains typical of early jazz, allowing improvisation and ensemble interplay. Its spirited, syncopated melodies capture the celebratory essence of New Orleans jazz culture.