MACK THE KNIFE LARSON - Free Jazz Leadsheet

“Mack the Knife” (also referred to here as “mack the knife larson”) was composed by Kurt Weill with original German lyrics by Bertolt Brecht for *The Threepenny Opera* in 1928. Its ominous tale of crime and corruption is masked by a deceptively lilting melody.

The English-language jazz adaptation most famously came through Louis Armstrong and later Bobby Darin, whose 1959 version became a major hit. The song’s dramatic structure has allowed for both theatrical and swing-style jazz interpretations, making it a versatile and enduring standard.