BLUIN' THE BLUES - Free Jazz Leadsheet

“bluin’ the blues” was composed by pianist Henry W. Ragas (1890‑1919) and published in 1919. Its first commercial recording was issued by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band in New York on December 30, 1920 (Victor 18483‑A). Over the decades the piece has remained in the jazz repertoire and has been revived by traditional jazz and Dixieland bands who appreciate its early‑jazz energy and blues‑inflected form.

The tune depicts a playful yet reflective blues mood, matching its title by invoking the idea of “bluing” or playing the blues in a lively conversation with the ensemble. Musically the piece is built around a head‑riff leading into improvisation, uses a blues‑based structure (though not always rigidly 12 bars), and features a moderate tempo swing with space for solo breaks and collective interplay.