Chord Distribution Analysis

Chord SymbolCountFrequency
Fmaj7511.9%
F7/A24.8%
Bb7#524.8%
A7b1324.8%
Dm724.8%
F7/C24.8%
Bbm624.8%
C7b1324.8%

Key Patterns Detected

PatternFunctionFrequency
A7b13 -> Dm7Resolution (Minor)2
F7/C -> Bbm6Resolution (Minor)2
C7b13 -> Fm7Resolution (Minor)2
Bm7 -> E7Setup (Major Key)1
E7 -> Amaj7Resolution (Major)1
Bbm7 -> Eb7Setup (Major Key)1
Eb7 -> Abmaj7Resolution (Major)1
Am7 -> D7Setup (Major Key)1
D7 -> Gmaj7Resolution (Major)1
Gm7 -> C7b9Setup (Major Key)1
C7b9 -> Fmaj7Resolution (Major)1
Gm7 -> C7#5Setup (Major Key)1
C7#5 -> Fmaj7Resolution (Major)1
C7 -> Fmaj7Resolution (Major)1

Harmonic Highlights

  • Employs sophisticated chromatic voice leading, transitioning from Fmaj7 through secondary dominants like F7/A and Bb7#5 to reach the submediant (A7b13 to Dm7).
  • Incorporates subdominant minor harmony (Bbm6, Fm7) to create Strayhorn’s signature “dreamy” and melancholic tonal palette.
  • The bridge features a rapid “staircase” of II-V-I sequences, modulating down by semitones (Amaj7 to Abmaj7) before returning to the home key.
  • Uses altered dominant extensions (b13, #5) to bridge distant tonal centers and smooth out non-diatonic transitions.

Improvisation Focus Chord tone targeting across rapid, non-diatonic II-V-I modulations.

Difficulty Rating 4/5. The dense chromaticism and the bridge’s rapid shifts between distant keys demand advanced harmonic awareness and fluid navigation.


📚 Standard Available in:

The Real Book - Volume III
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