I’ve been fascinated by this jazz standard ever since I was in high school. I was at the Lionel Hampton jazz festival in Moscow, Idaho, which is the biggest jazz festival in the world by student participants. I still remember hearing the Outstanding High School soloists on each instrument jam on this tune with no music at the evening concert. They sounded incredible. I HAD to learn this tune!
The last 5 bars have so many different changes on different recordings that it’s impossible to say what the “right” changes are. I have chosen to go with the Chet Baker/Oscar Peterson changes. You can’t argue with Oscar Peterson! The George Benson changes in the last 5 bars are probably closest to the changes written in the Real Book, although any of the recordings below have acceptable changes as long as the players agree by either talking about it or by listening. If they must use a chart, then it’s better to use the same chart.
