Free Jazz Standard Sheet Music Downloads

"Don't Be That Way" was composed in 1933 by saxophonist and arranger Edgar Sampson, best known for writing "Stompin' at the Savoy." Sampson was a key member of Chick Webb's band, which first recorded the tune in 1934 for Decca. Mitchell Parish added lyrics in 1937, and Benny Goodman received a partial composer credit when he adopted the tune.

The piece follows a 32-bar AABA form with a bright, bouncing melody driven by riff-based writing that epitomizes the swing era's big band style. The arrangement thrives on dynamic contrasts between sections, call-and-response between brass and reeds, and an irresistible rhythmic momentum. Typically performed at medium to up-tempo, the tune showcases the interplay between soloists and ensemble that made swing music so compelling. Though lyrics exist, the melody's instrumental character means it is almost always performed as an instrumental.

The tune achieved lasting fame as the opening number of Benny Goodman's legendary Carnegie Hall concert on January 16, 1938—the first major jazz performance at that venue. Goodman had commissioned a new arrangement from Sampson specifically for the occasion. The studio recording made the following month reached number one on the Billboard chart for five weeks, with a band featuring Harry James (tp), Gene Krupa (ds), and Jess Stacy (p).