“Georgia” (PDF) from the James & Troy Andrews album, 12 & Shorty

In his book The Jazz Standards, historian Ted Gioia makes light of the scattered origins behind Hoagy Carmichael’s “Georgia On My Mind.” While residing back-and-forth between Chicago and New York City, Louis Armstrong recorded one of the many versions of the Tin Pan Alley hit in 1930, before he headed west and eventually back over to Europe. Until the native Georgian Ray Charles took ownership of the song, its own disassociation to the state may have actually inspired the sentiment and longing for a place to call home.

Because of its mainstream popularity, some songwriting circles have referred to a chord progression that utilizes a dominant-Three chord as the “Georgia” changes, in this case an A7 chord in the key of F, despite its common occurrence in other early jazz standards heard throughout New Orleans, like “All of Me” and “Basin Street Blues.” The borrowed chord provides its signature sound, set apart from an otherwise diatonic chord progression within the home key. Although, here, the improvisation by an unseasoned Trombone Shorty stays relatively close to home, showcasing his technique for upper-register scales, and was recorded distinctly before his touring career took off around the world.

Recommended reading: The Jazz Standards: A Guide to the Repertoire by Ted Gioia. Published by Oxford University Press.