Free Jazz Standard Sheet Music Downloads

"Ease Away Walk" is a blues-based composition by Benny Golson, the Philadelphia-born tenor saxophonist, composer, and arranger responsible for an extraordinary number of jazz standards, including "Killer Joe," "Whisper Not," "I Remember Clifford," "Along Came Betty," and "Blues March."

True to its title, the tune is a relaxed, bluesy number played at a deceptively easy tempo, with a laid-back groove that suggests an unhurried stroll. Its structure is based on the blues form with straightforward changes that provide an inviting framework for improvisation. However, maintaining a convincing swing feel at such a slow tempo is a genuine test of a musician's time sense, making this seemingly simple piece deeper than it first appears. Among Golson's output, it stands as one of his most accessible compositions, yet it rewards musical maturity and patience.

The tune is closely associated with The Jazztet, the group Golson co-led with trumpeter Art Farmer from 1959 to 1962. Golson also recorded it in 1977 with Curtis Fuller (tb) and Patrice Rushen (p). Its inclusion in the Jamey Aebersold Play-A-Long series (Volume 14, produced under Golson's own supervision) has made it a staple among jazz students.