BROADWAY - Free Jazz Leadsheet

“broadway” was composed in 1940 by Wilbur H. Bird, Teddy McRae and Henri Woode. Its first popular recording was by the Count Basie Orchestra in New York that same year, featuring a strong swing‑band arrangement and lively soloing. Over the years the tune has been adopted widely in both big‑band and small‑group settings, praised for its enduring melody and improvisational adaptability.

The song evokes urban energy and musical sophistication, with its crisp melodic lines and driving swing rhythm offering generous space for soloists and ensemble interplay. Structurally, it is often played in AABA form over 32 bars in 4/4 time, with a catchy head and opportunities for solos built on accessible but rich harmonic progressions.