Lullaby Of Birdland (F minor) - Jazz Analysis & Chords

Harmonic Highlights

• The A section utilizes a $i - vi^{\varnothing}7 - II7 - V7$ progression ($Fm - Dm7b5 - G7 - C7$), employing a secondary dominant ($G7$) to drive toward the primary dominant ($C7$).
• The bridge shifts focus to the relative major ($Ab$), utilizing frequent $ii - V$ cells ($Bbm7 - Eb7$) to create a brighter tonal contrast to the F minor head.
• Extensive use of $7b9$ extensions on secondary dominants, specifically $F7b9$ resolving to $Bbm7$, provides a sophisticated, “jazzy” tension typical of the cool jazz era.
• The structure relies heavily on the cycle of fourths, moving predictably through $iv7 - VII7 - IIImaj7$ to establish harmonic momentum.

Improvisation Focus

Targeting the $b9$ and $b13$ extensions over the $V7$ chords to emphasize the F minor tonality.

Difficulty Rating

3/5. The moderate tempo and standard $ii-V$ cycles are manageable, but the frequent modulations between F minor and Ab major require intermediate harmonic navigation.