SWINGIN' THE BLUES - Free Jazz Leadsheet

"Swingin' the Blues" was composed by Count Basie and Eddie Durham and first recorded on February 16, 1938, by the Count Basie Orchestra in Hollywood. This early version showcased the Basie band’s developing sound, featuring prominent riffs, relaxed rhythmic drive, and solo spaces shaped by the Kansas City style.

The tune has remained a hallmark of Basie’s repertoire, resurfacing in later live recordings and in performances by modern big bands. Instrumental and riff-based, it offers no lyrics but conveys a blues-centreed exuberance through its interplay of brass and saxophone sections. Its structure is rooted in a 12-bar blues form enriched with layered riffs that typify the swing-era big-band approach.