Donna Lee.html



"Donna Lee" is a bebop jazz standard in A flat based on the chord changes of the traditional jazz standard "(Back Home Again in) Indiana".¹

Authorship

Authorship of the tune is credited to saxophonist Charlie Parker, though debate exists as to whether it was really composed by Miles Davis. Parker was credited on the original 78 rpm recordings and numerous reissues, but there is information pointing to Miles as the true composer.² The tune was copyrighted under Parker's name. It was named after bassist Curly Russell's daughter, Donna Lee Russell, a title assigned by producer Teddy Reig.

Performances

Jazz bassist Jaco Pastorius recorded his interpretation of the tune, a solo fretless electric bass rendition featuring Don Alias on congas, for his debut album Jaco Pastorius (1976). The tune is a particular favourite of avant-garde saxophonist Anthony Braxton, who has recorded it many times. It is also the last song ever recorded by trumpeter Clifford Brown, prior to his tragic death in a car accident at age 25.

References

Samples

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