London blues – Free Jazz Lead Sheet
Bb Major –
About this song:
“London Blues” is a composition by Jelly Roll Morton, written in the early 1920s during a period when Morton was expanding his repertoire of blues-based piano works. The tune reflects Morton’s characteristic approach to blending blues phrasing with early New Orleans jazz, combining expressive melodic lines with syncopated rhythmic patterns.
Morton recorded the piece during his productive 1920s and 1930s sessions, where it appeared primarily as a solo piano work. Later interpretations by traditional jazz musicians helped maintain its presence in the classic jazz repertoire. Its structure follows a blues foundation enriched by Morton’s distinctive left-hand figures and shifting accents, making it a notable example of his personal piano style.
