SUMMERTIME - Free Jazz Leadsheet

summertime, composed by George Gershwin for the opera Porgy and Bess in 1935, is one of the most iconic jazz standards ever written. Its haunting, lyrical melody and blues-inflected harmonies make it widely adaptable for jazz interpretation.

Originally performed by Abbie Mitchell in the opera, it has since been recorded by countless jazz artists including Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, and Miles Davis.

The song uses a 32-bar AABA form with rich modal harmonies, providing a platform for both melodic and harmonic improvisation while maintaining its evocative, lullaby-like quality.