Free Jazz Standard Sheet Music Downloads

"Topsy" is a swing-era instrumental co-written by Eddie Durham and Edgar Battle, first released by the Count Basie Orchestra in 1937. Durham was a trombonist, guitarist, and arranger who played a central role in shaping Kansas City jazz and is recognized as a pioneer of the amplified electric guitar in jazz.

The piece is a riff-based swing number in B-flat major with a 32-bar structure. Its appeal lies in the driving call-and-response between horn sections, embodying the infectious, rhythmically propulsive energy of Basie's Kansas City style. Despite its straightforward riff construction, the tune provides ample room for soloing and has been adapted for everything from small combos to full big bands.

The Basie Orchestra's 1937 recording is the definitive original, and Benny Goodman scored a pop chart hit with his 1938 cover. In 1958, drummer Cozy Cole recorded a version that reached number one on the R&B chart, introducing the tune to an entirely new generation of listeners.