Free Jazz Standard Sheet Music Downloads

"Autumn Leaves" was composed by Hungarian-born Joseph Kosma (1905–1969) in 1945. Originally a French chanson titled "Les Feuilles mortes," with lyrics by poet Jacques Prévert, it gained worldwide fame after Johnny Mercer wrote English lyrics in 1950. It has since become one of the most recorded jazz standards of all time.

The song is a 32-bar AABC form, typically played in G minor. Its chord progression is built almost entirely on ii–V–I sequences that cycle through both major and relative minor keys, following the circle of fifths. This elegant harmonic design makes the tune an ideal introduction to jazz harmony for beginners, while offering experienced improvisers a deeply satisfying framework to explore. With over 1,400 recorded jazz versions, it is considered the most important non-American standard in the jazz repertoire—a testament to the universal appeal of its poignant melody and flawless harmonic architecture.

The definitive jazz recording is found on Cannonball Adderley's 1958 album Somethin' Else, featuring Miles Davis as a sideman. The Bill Evans Trio's version on Portrait in Jazz (1959) is equally iconic, showcasing a lyrical, introspective approach to this timeless standard.