Free Jazz Standard Sheet Music Downloads

"Doxy" is an early composition by tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins, first recorded on June 29, 1954, at the Van Gelder Studio in Hackensack, New Jersey, during a Miles Davis session. The track appeared on the 10-inch LP Miles Davis with Sonny Rollins and was later included on the 1957 album Bags' Groove.

Set in B-flat major with a compact 16-bar form, the tune borrows its chord changes from Bob Carleton's "Ja-Da." The melody opens with a descending line rooted in the G minor pentatonic scale, establishing a bluesy character reinforced by syncopated, riff-like phrasing. Each pass through the A sections features subtle melodic variations, giving the head a loose, spontaneous feel at medium swing tempo. The brevity of the 16-bar cycle makes it an ideal vehicle for extended improvisation—accessible for beginners yet rich enough for seasoned players—which explains its enduring popularity at jam sessions worldwide.

The original recording features Miles Davis (tp), Sonny Rollins (ts), Horace Silver (p), Percy Heath (b), and Kenny Clarke (ds). Rollins's affection for the tune is reflected in his later naming his own record label "Doxy Records." The composition remains one of the most frequently called tunes in the jazz repertoire.