OFF MINOR - Free Jazz Leadsheet

“Off Minor” is a bebop composition by Thelonious Monk, written in 1947. It exemplifies Monk’s unconventional harmonic approach, featuring dissonances, angular melodies, and unexpected chord changes.

The first recording was by Monk himself in 1947, with piano leading a quartet. Its AABA form incorporates minor tonality and chromatic movement, providing a challenging framework for improvisation.

Subsequent interpretations by Bud Powell, John Coltrane, and modern jazz ensembles have maintained its status as a complex standard. The piece conveys a quirky, introspective mood while allowing performers to explore rhythmic flexibility and harmonic exploration.