Charlie Parker (1947) FIRST RECORDING [DONNA LEE]

The first recording of Donna Lee comes from a recording session for Savoy Records in 1947. Four takes were recorded and it was the fourth was chosen as the master take. Miles Davis says that he was actually the one who composed "Donna Lee"; making this the first original composition of his to ever be recorded. Featuring Miles Davis - trumpet, Charlie Parker - alto saxophone, Bud Powell - piano, Tommy Potter - bass, and Max Roach - drums. Recorded May 8, 1947 in New York.

The JGC History series features specifically curated playlists to help trace the lineage of some of the most influential jazz compositions of all time.

Join me on Patreon for Lead Sheets, Play-Alongs, Transcriptions, Lessons and much more:

Some notes about the composition as found on

Composer: Charlie Parker, *Miles Davis

Year: 1947

Origin: First recorded on a 1947 session for Savoy Records.

Style: Swing, typically played at fast tempos.

Form: A1-B-A2-C (32 Bars) [8-8-8-8]

Key: Ab Major

Harmony/Overview: This tune is based on the changes to "Indiana". The harmony remains very functional throughout, although the melody was especially modern for its time.  It is a classic bebop line that contains some very strong motifs along with a wealth of musical language. In bar 21 the melody contains an A♮ not an Ab, contrary to what is notated in the Charlie Parker Omnibook.

Recordings: This composition has become a staple of the jazz repertoire and has been recorded hundreds of times throughout the years. The first recording comes from a session Charlie Parker recorded for Savoy Records in 1947. Four takes were recorded, and it was the 4th that was chosen as the Master Take. Although it seems very much so in the style of Charlie Parker, Miles Davis claimed to have composed the piece, stating that the original listing of Parker as the composer was a mistake on behalf of the record label. If this is the case, "Donna Lee" would be Miles Davis' first original composition to have ever been recorded. It remains a popular standard in the repertoire and continues to be performed frequently to this day, especially in jam session situations.

JGC Top Picks:
Clifford Brown, The Beginning and the End, 1955
Lennie Tristano & Lee Konitz, (Live Recording from Confucius Restaurant, NYC), 1955
Phil Woods, The Macerata Concert, 1987

Please consider supporting this channel through a donation,

You can also support me on Patreon for much more musical content,

Be sure to subscribe to my main channel:

As well as my second channel for Play-Alongs and Loops:

The World's Premier Site for Jazz Guitar Education and Beyond

DISCLAIMER: This video has been uploaded for educational purposes and is protected under fair-use. This channel will never be monetized and any ads are run solely on behalf of the rightful copyright owner.

#DonnaLee #CharlieParker #MilesDavis