Free Jazz Standard Sheet Music Downloads

"Tea for Two" was composed by Vincent Youmans with lyrics by Irving Caesar for the 1925 Broadway musical No, No, Nanette. It became one of the most ubiquitous songs of the 20th century, crossing from the stage into jazz, pop, and even classical music.

The tune is a 32-bar AABA form, typically played in Ab major. The A section melody has a distinctive pattern of repeated notes followed by chromatic ascending and descending motion — simple yet instantly memorable. The harmony alternates between I and V7 with ii-V insertions, while the bridge introduces secondary dominant motion toward the IV chord area. The song is remarkably adaptable in tempo, working equally well as a breakneck Charleston-era swing, a relaxed ballad, or a Latin arrangement.

Art Tatum's dazzling solo piano version is a landmark recording that showcases his legendary virtuosity. Tommy Dorsey's 1935 big band arrangement is another classic. The tune's reach extends even into the classical world — Dmitri Shostakovich orchestrated it as Tahiti Trot in 1928, a testament to its universal appeal.