Davenport blues – Free Jazz Lead Sheet
Eb Major – Bix Beiderbecke 1925
Davenport Blues by Leon Bismark "Bix" Beiderbecke (1925) is a jazz blues standard in Eb Major. Its blues-inflected harmonies and swing-oriented rhythm make it a favorite for both vocalists and instrumentalists. Leon Bismark "Bix" Beiderbecke was a pianist and bandleader whose influence shaped the sound of the era.
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Support the projectAbout this song:
Davenport Blues, composed in 1925 by Bix Beiderbecke, is a landmark early jazz piece known for its lyrical cornet lines and relaxed rhythmic feel. This free online lead sheet highlights its clear melodic structure and blues-inflected harmony, ideal for traditional jazz interpretation.
View this lead sheet online to explore its classic 1920s phrasing and improvisational potential.
About the composer: Bix Beiderbecke
Leon Bismark "Bix" Beiderbecke (1903–1931) was an American jazz cornetist and pianist whose innovative style and compositions significantly shaped 1920s jazz. His most notable work includes "In a Mist" and "Singin' the Blues," which highlight his unique harmonic and improvisational techniques.
Musical strucutre and form
This features a verse and chorus in the same key. The chorus follows a ABAC 32 bar structure. This transcription is from the 1927 Red Nichols version.
