List of jazz contrafacts

A contrafact is a musical composition built using the chord progression of a pre-existing

one but introducing a new melody and arrangement. Typically the original tune's
progression and song form will be reused but occasionally just a section will be reused in
the new composition. This article is a list of notable contrafacts by jazz artists.

Yea Contrafact Original Yea [hide]Original

Contrafact
r composer Tune r composer

"Zog's Jog" James Morrison "Cherokee" 1938 Ray Noble

"On Green
"Yellow Dolphin
1977 Tete Montoliu Dolphin 1947 Bronislau Kaper
Street"
Street"

"Yardbird Suite" 1946 Charlie Parker "Rosetta" 1939 Earl Hines

Charles
"You Can
Carpenter, Louis
"Wow" 1949 Lennie Tristano Depend on 1931
Dunlap, Earl
Me"
Hines

"What Is This
"What Love?" Charles Mingus Thing Called 1929 Cole Porter
Love?"

"What Is This
"Wham Bam Thank
Charles Mingus Thing Called 1929 Cole Porter
You Ma'am"
Love?"

"I Got
"Wells Fargo" Wilbur Harden 1930 George Gershwin
Rhythm"

"Confirmatio
"Weeja" 1956 Elmo Hope 1946 Charlie Parker
n"

"Warmin Up a Riff" Charlie Parker "Cherokee" 1938 Ray Noble

 Yea Contrafact Original Yea [hide]Original
Contrafact
r composer Tune r composer

"Someday My
"Waltz New" Jim Hall Prince Will 1937 Frank Churchill
Come"

"Softly, as in
Sigmund
"Walk, Don't Run" 1954 Johnny Smith a Morning 1928
Romberg
Sunrise"

"I Got
"Wail" Bud Powell 1930 George Gershwin
Rhythm"

"Vodka" Mal Waldron "Yesterdays" 1933 Jerome Kern

"Two in Love" 2000 Jack Cooper "I Love You" 1944 Cole Porter

"Easy to
"Twelve" 2000 Peter Erskine 1934 Cole Porter
Love"

"Jeepers
"Tour de Force" Dizzy Gillespie 1938 Harry Warren
Creepers"

"I Got
"Tippin'" 1956 Horace Silver 1930 George Gershwin
Rhythm"

Antnio Carlos Antnio Carlos

"Tide" 1970 "Wave" 1967
Jobim Jobim

"Third Event" Arun Luthra "Giant Steps" 1959 John Coltrane

"I Got
"The Theme" Miles Davis 1930 George Gershwin
Rhythm"

"The Red Tornado" Red Rodney "Cherokee" 1938 Ray Noble

 Yea Contrafact Original Yea [hide]Original
Contrafact
r composer Tune r composer

"The Protagonist" Jack Cooper "Lover" 1932 Richard Rodgers

"The Man from Hyde "The Song Is

Harold Mabern 1932 Jerome Kern
Park" You"

"Stompin' at
"The Kangaroo" 1953 Les Paul 1934 Edgar Sampson
the Savoy"

"The Injuns" Donald Byrd "Cherokee" 1938 Ray Noble

"The Eternal "Dizzy

1957 Sonny Stitt 1945 Dizzy Gillespie
Triangle" Atmosphere"

"I Get A Kick

"That's My Kick" 1967 Erroll Garner 1934 Cole Porter
Out Of You"

"Sweet Ben
"Teapot" J. J. Johnson Georgia 1925 Bernie, Maceo
Brown" Pinkard

"I Got
"Tangibility" Arun Luthra 1930 George Gershwin
Rhythm"

"In Your Own

"Sweet Thing" Rory Stuart 1955 Dave Brubeck
Sweet Way"

"Sweet Ben
"Sweet Clifford" Clifford Brown Georgia 1925 Bernie, Maceo
Brown" Pinkard

"I Got
"Suspone" Mike Stern 1930 George Gershwin
Rhythm"
 Yea Contrafact Original Yea [hide]Original
Contrafact
r composer Tune r composer

Bronislaw
"All God's
Kaper, Walter
"Suburban Eyes" 1947 Ike Quebec Chillun Got 1937
Jurmann, Gus
Rhythm"
Kahn

"What Is This
"Subconscious Lee" Lee Konitz Thing Called 1929 Cole Porter
Love?"

"Sweet Ben
"Sub-Atomic
Jimmy Halperin Georgia 1925 Bernie, Maceo
Dominant"
Brown" Pinkard

"'S
"Stupendous" Mel Broiles 1927 George Gershwin
Wonderful"

"Confirmatio
"Striver's Row" 1957 Sonny Rollins 1946 Charlie Parker
n"

"After You've
"Straight Life" Art Pepper 1918 Turner Layton
Gone"

"I Got
"Steeplechase" Charlie Parker 1930 George Gershwin
Rhythm"

Coleman "Just You,

"Spotlite" 1929 Jesse Greer
Hawkins Just Me"

"There Will
"Split Kick" Horace Silver Never Be 1942 Harry Warren
Another You"

"Shelley" Red Rodney "Rosetta" 1939 Earl Hines

 Yea Contrafact Original Yea [hide]Original
Contrafact
r composer Tune r composer

Charlie
"Seven, Come "I Got
Christian, Benny 1930 George Gershwin
Eleven" Rhythm"
Goodman

Walter
"Serene" Eric Dolphy "Tenderly" 1946 Gross, Jack
Lawrence

"Scrapple from the "Honeysuckle

1947 Charlie Parker 1929 Fats Waller
Apple" Rose"

Lee
"Fine and
"Sax of a Kind" Konitz, Warne 1930 Kay Swift
Dandy"
Marsh

"Salute to "I'll
Birdland AKA Salute 1954 Gigi Gryce Remember 1942 Gene de Paul
to the Bandbox" April"

"I Got
"Salt Peanuts" 1942 Dizzy Gillespie 1930 George Gershwin
Rhythm"

"I Got
"Room 608" Horace Silver 1930 George Gershwin
Rhythm"

Coleman "Oh, Lady Be

"Rifftide" 1924 George Gershwin
Hawkins Good!"

Thelonious "I Got

"Rhythm-a-Ning" 1957 1930 George Gershwin
Monk Rhythm"

"Take the "A"

"Rhodomagnetics" Wilbur Harden 1939 Billy Strayhorn
Train"

"Stompin' at
"Relaxin' With Lee" 1950 Charlie Parker 1934 Edgar Sampson
the Savoy"
 Yea Contrafact Original Yea [hide]Original
Contrafact
r composer Tune r composer

Bronislaw
"All God's
Kaper, Walter
"Reets and I" Benny Harris Chillun Got 1937
Jurmann, Gus
Rhythm"
Kahn

"Back Home Ballard

"Re-Re" Bob Mintzer Again in 1917 MacDonald, Jam
Indiana" es F. Hanley

"I Didn't
"Raeba" Jimmy Halperin Know What 1939 Richard Rodgers
Time It Was"

"Lover, Come Sigmund

"Quicksilver" Horace Silver 1928
Back to Me" Romberg

"Embraceable
"Quasimodo" Charlie Parker 1928 George Gershwin
You"

"Darn That Jimmy Van

"Psalm" Jimmy Halperin 1939
Dream" Heusen

"All the
"Prince Albert" Kenny Dorham Things You 1939 Jerome Kern
Are"

"Parker 51" Jimmy Raney "Cherokee" 1938 Ray Noble

Charlie
"How High
"Ornithology" 1946 Parker, Benny 1940 Morgan Lewis
the Moon"
Harris

"Softly, as in
Sigmund
"One Liners" Mike Stern a Morning 1928
Romberg
Sunrise"
 Yea Contrafact Original Yea [hide]Original
Contrafact
r composer Tune r composer

"September in
"On a Misty Night" Tadd Dameron 1937 Harry Warren
the Rain"

"I Got
"Oleo" 1945 Sonny Rollins 1930 George Gershwin
Rhythm"

"It's You or
"Off the Cuff" Jim McNeely 1963 Jule Styne
No One"

"There Will
"Not You Again" John Scofield Never Be 1942 Harry Warren
Another You"

"Out of
"Nostalgia" Fats Navarro 1931 Johnny Green
Nowhere"

Bronislaw
"All God's
"Never Felt That Way Kaper, Walter
Sonny Stitt Chillun Got 1937
Before" Jurmann, Gus
Rhythm"
Kahn

"My Little Suede "Jeepers

Charlie Parker 1938 Harry Warren
Shoes" Creepers"

"I Got
"Moose the Mooche" 1946 Charlie Parker 1930 George Gershwin
Rhythm"

Antnio Carlos
"Mirror Lake" Idrees Sulieman "Wave" 1967
Jobim

"Confirmatio
"Meteor" 1956 Tal Farlow 1946 Charlie Parker
n"

"Meiji Stunt" Jim McNeely "Just in Time" 1956 Jule Styne

 Yea Contrafact Original Yea [hide]Original
Contrafact
r composer Tune r composer

"All God's Bronislaw

"Mayreh" Horace Silver Chillun Got 1937 Kaper, Walter
Rhythm" Jurmann

"Marshmallow" Warne Marsh "Cherokee" 1938 Ray Noble

"Just You,
"Mad Be Bop" 1946 J. J. Johnson 1929 Jesse Greer
Just Me"

"Love Me or Walter
"Lullaby of Birdland" 1952 George Shearing 1928
Leave Me" Donaldson

Bronislaw
"All God's
Kaper, Walter
"Little Willie Leaps" 1947 Miles Davis Chillun Got 1937
Jurmann, Gus
Rhythm"
Kahn

Thelonious "I Got

"Little Rootie Tootie" 1930 George Gershwin
Monk Rhythm"

"Back Home Ballard

"Lex" 1960 Donald Byrd Again in 1917 MacDonald, Jam
Indiana" es F. Hanley

"I Got
"Lester Leaps In" 1939 Lester Young 1930 George Gershwin
Rhythm"

"How High
"Lennie-Bird" Lennie Tristano 1940 Morgan Lewis
the Moon"

"Pennies from
"Lennie's Pennies" Lennie Tristano 1936 Arthur Johnston
Heaven"

"You Stepped
Nacio Herb
"Lee's Dream" Fred Hersch Out of a 1940
Brown
Dream"
 Yea Contrafact Original Yea [hide]Original
Contrafact
r composer Tune r composer

"Kokochee" Teddy Charles "Cherokee" 1938 Ray Noble

"Ko-Ko"[5] 1945 Charlie Parker "Cherokee" 1938 Ray Noble

"Fine and
"Keen and Peechy" Woody Herman 1930 Kay Swift
Dandy"

"Kamman's A' "I Got

Oscar Pettiford 1930 George Gershwin
Comin'" Rhythm"

"Confirmatio
"Juicy Lucy" Horace Silver 1946 Charlie Parker
n"

"Back Home Ballard

"Ju-Ju" Lennie Tristano Again in 1917 MacDonald, Jam
Indiana" es F. Hanley

"Out of
"Jayne" Ornette Coleman 1931 Johnny Green
Nowhere"

"I Got
"Jay Jay" 1946 J. J. Johnson 1930 George Gershwin
Rhythm"

"I Got
"Jay Bird" 1946 J. J. Johnson 1930 George Gershwin
Rhythm"

"All the
"Jahbero" Tadd Dameron Things You 1939 Jerome Kern
Are"

"Blues for
"Jack Sprat" Sonny Stitt 1951 Charlie Parker
Alice"

"A Night in
"Intoit" Stan Getz 1942 Dizzy Gillespie
Tunisia"
 Yea Contrafact Original Yea [hide]Original
Contrafact
r composer Tune r composer

"Softly, as in
Sigmund
"Infra Rae" Hank Mobley a Morning 1928
Romberg
Sunrise"

Thelonious
"In Walked Bud" 1947 "Blue Skies" 1926 Irving Berlin
Monk

Art
"In a Mellow Tone" 1939 Duke Ellington "Rose Room" 1917 Hickman, Harry
Williams

"Impressions" 1961 John Coltrane "So What" 1959 Miles Davis

"Back Home
"Ice Freezes Red" Fats Navarro Again in 1917 James F. Hanley
Indiana"

"All the
"I Want More" Dexter Gordon Things You 1939 Jerome Kern
Are"

"I Hate You" Tete Montoliu "I Love You" 1944 Cole Porter

"What Is This
"Hot House" 1945 Tadd Dameron Thing Called 1929 Cole Porter
Love?"

"Half Nelson" 1947 Miles Davis "Lady Bird" 1939 Tadd Dameron

Thelonious "Oh, Lady Be

"Hackensack" 1924 George Gershwin
Monk Good"

"Groovin' High" 1945 Dizzy Gillespie "Whispering" 1920 Vincent Rose

 Yea Contrafact Original Yea [hide]Original
Contrafact
r composer Tune r composer

"Green
"Green St. Caper" Woody Shaw Dolphin 1947 Bronislau Kaper
Street"

Tadd
"I Got
"Good Bait" 1944 Dameron, Count 1930 George Gershwin
Rhythm"
Basie

"Love Me or Walter
"Get It" 1957 Bud Powell 1928
Leave Me" Donaldson

"How About
"Garage Band" Arun Luthra 1941 Burton Lane
You?"

"There Will
"Futurity" Gigi Gryce Never Be 1942 Harry Warren
Another You"

"I Got
"Fungi Mama" Blue Mitchell 1930 George Gershwin
Rhythm"

"It Could
Jimmy Van
"Fried Bananas" Dexter Gordon Happen to 1944
Heusen
You"

Tommy "Blues for

"Freight Train" 1951 Charlie Parker
Flanagan Alice"

"'S
"Frantic Fancies" Bud Powell 1927 George Gershwin
Wonderful"

Maynard "I Got

"Fox Hunt" 1930 George Gershwin
Ferguson Rhythm"

"I Got
"For Regulars Only" Dexter Gordon 1930 George Gershwin
Rhythm"
 Yea Contrafact Original Yea [hide]Original
Contrafact
r composer Tune r composer

Bryson, "I Got

"Flintstones Theme" 1930 George Gershwin
Goldberg Rhythm"

"I Got
"Finger Poppin'" 1959 Horace Silver 1930 George Gershwin
Rhythm"

"Fifth House" John Coltrane "Hot House" 1945 Tadd Dameron

"You'd Be So
"Feather Bed" Ted Brown Nice to Come 1943 Cole Porter
Home To"

"Oh, Lady Be
"Fats Blows" 1947 Fats Navarro 1924 George Gershwin
Good"

"Love for
"Ezz-Thetic" George Russell 1930 Cole Porter
Sale"

Thelonious "Just You,

"Evidence"[3] 1929 Jesse Greer
Monk Just Me"[4]

"You Stepped
Nacio Herb
"Dream Stepper" Lee Konitz Out of a 1940
Brown
Dream"

"You Stepped
Nacio Herb
"Dream Step" Dick Oatts Out of a 1940
Brown
Dream"

"Doxy" 1957 Sonny Rollins "Ja-Da" 1918 Bob Carleton

Wes "Confirmatio
"Doujie" 1946 Charlie Parker
Montgomery n"
 Yea Contrafact Original Yea [hide]Original
Contrafact
r composer Tune r composer

Charlie "Back Home Ballard

"Donna Lee" 1947 Parker and Miles Again in 1917 MacDonald, Jam
Davis Indiana"[2] es F. Hanley

Benny
Goodman, Edgar "I Got
"Don't Be That Way" 1930 George Gershwin
Sampson, Mitche Rhythm"
ll Parish

"Do You Hear the

John
Voices You Left "Giant Steps" 1959 John Coltrane
McLaughlin
Behind?"

"I Got
"Dizzie Atmosphere" Dizzy Gillespie 1930 George Gershwin
Rhythm"

"Diggin' Diz" Dizzy Gillespie "Lover" 1932 Richard Rodgers

"Sweet Ben
"Dig" 1951 Miles Davis Georgia 1925 Bernie, Maceo
Brown" Pinkard

"Fine and
"Dextrose" 1947 Dexter Gordon 1930 Kay Swift
Dandy"

"Take the "A"

"Dextivity" 1947 Dexter Gordon 1939 Billy Strayhorn
Train"

"I Got
"Dexterity" Charlie Parker 1930 George Gershwin
Rhythm"

"Oh, Lady Be
"Dewey Square" Charlie Parker 1924 George Gershwin
Good!"

"Confirmatio
"Denial" Miles Davis 1946 Charlie Parker
n"
 Yea Contrafact Original Yea [hide]Original
Contrafact
r composer Tune r composer

"Dear John" 1990 Freddie Hubbard "Giant Steps" 1959 John Coltrane

"I Got
"Crazeology" Benny Harris 1930 George Gershwin
Rhythm"

"There Is No
"Coupe de Ville" Mike Stern 1936 Isham Jones
Greater Love"

"Countdown" John Coltrane "Tune Up" 1953 Miles Davis

"I Got
"Cotton Tail" 1940 Duke Ellington 1930 George Gershwin
Rhythm"

"I Got
"Constellation" 1948 Charlie Parker 1930 George Gershwin
Rhythm"

"Come Rain
"Come Fog" Don Grolnick or Come 1946 Harold Arlen
Shine"

Bronislaw
"All God's
Kaper, Walter
"Coffee Pot" J. J. Johnson Chillun Got 1937
Jurmann, Gus
Rhythm"
Kahn

"I Got
"Chronology" 1959 Ornette Coleman 1930 George Gershwin
Rhythm"

"I Got
"Chippie" Ornette Coleman 1930 George Gershwin
Rhythm"

"You Stepped
Nacio Herb
"Chick's Tune" Chick Corea Out of a 1940
Brown
Dream"
 Yea Contrafact Original Yea [hide]Original
Contrafact
r composer Tune r composer

"I Got
"Chasin' the Bird" Charlie Parker 1930 George Gershwin
Rhythm"

"I Got
"Celia" Bud Powell 1930 George Gershwin
Rhythm"

"I Got
"Celebrity" Charlie Parker 1930 George Gershwin
Rhythm"

"Out of
"Casbah" Tadd Dameron 1931 Johnny Green
Nowhere"

"I Got
"C.T.A." Jimmy Heath 1930 George Gershwin
Rhythm"

"Stompin' at
"Byas a Drink" Don Byas 1934 Edgar Sampson
the Savoy"

"I Got
"Bud's Bubble" Bud Powell 1930 George Gershwin
Rhythm"

"Sweet Ben
Thelonious
"Bright Mississippi" Georgia 1925 Bernie, Maceo
Monk
Brown" Pinkard

"All the
"Boston Bernie" Dexter Gordon Things You 1939 Jerome Kern
Are"

"Honeysuckle
"Boneology" 1946 J. J. Johnson 1929 Fats Waller,
Rose"

"I Got
"Blue's Theme" Blue Mitchell 1930 George Gershwin
Rhythm"
 Yea Contrafact Original Yea [hide]Original
Contrafact
r composer Tune r composer

"Blue Silver" 1948 Blue Mitchell "Peace" 1959 Horace Silver

"Blue Serge"[1] 1946 Serge Chaloff "Cherokee" 1938 Ray Noble

"All the
"Bird of Paradise" Charlie Parker Things You 1939 Jerome Kern
Are"

"Lover, Come Sigmund

"Bird Gets the Worm" 1947 Charlie Parker 1928
Back to Me" Romberg

"Because of Guns" Vijay Iyer "Hey Joe" 1962 Billy Roberts

"Fine and
"Bebop Romp" Fats Navarro 1930 Kay Swift
Dandy"

Coleman "Lover, Come Sigmund

"Bean and the Boys" 1948 1928
Hawkins Back to Me" Romberg

"What Is This
"Barry's Bop" Fats Navarro Thing Called 1929 Cole Porter
Love?"

Gerald
"Background Music" Warne Marsh "All of Me" 1931 Marks, Seymour
Simons

"Back Home in "Back Home

Brooklyn with Arun Luthra Again in 1917 James F. Hanley
Donna" Indiana"

"I Got
"Apple Jump" Dexter Gordon 1930 George Gershwin
Rhythm"

"Apache Dance" George Coleman "Cherokee" 1938 Ray Noble

 Yea Contrafact Original Yea [hide]Original
Contrafact
r composer Tune r composer

"Anthropology/Thrivi "I Got

1945 Charlie Parker 1930 George Gershwin
ng from a Riff" Rhythm"

"An Oscar for "I Got

Charlie Parker 1930 George Gershwin
Treadwell" Rhythm"

"All The Things You

"All the
Could Be By Now If
1961 Charles Mingus Things You 1939 Jerome Kern
Sigmund Freud's Wife
Are"
Was Your Mother"

"All the
"Ablution" Lennie Tristano Things You 1939 Jerome Kern
Are"

Thelonious "I Got

"52nd Street Theme" 1944 1930 George Gershwin
Monk Rhythm"

"317 East 32nd "Out of

Lennie Tristano 1931 Johnny Green
Street" Nowhere"

"Confirmatio
"26-2"[citation needed] 1960 John Coltrane 1946 Charlie Parker
n"

Fried Bananas-It Could Happen To You

Nostalgia-Out Of Nowhere
Boston Bernie-All The things You Are
Prince Albert-All The Things You Are
Half Nelson-Lady Bird
Hot House-What is this Thing Called Love?
Omicron-Woody n You
Injuns-Cherokee
Dear John-Giant Steps
Justice-Evidence-Just YOu Just Me
Ornithology-How High the Moon
26-2-Confirmation
Quicksilver-Lover Come Back to Me
Impressions-So What
Anti-Climax-So What
Cunning Lee-So What
Split Kick-Never Another You
Donna Lee-Indiana
Green St. Capers-Green Dolphin St.
Chick's Tune-You Stepped Out of a Dream

I Got Rhythm

Apple Jump
Dexterity
Anthropology (Thriving From a Riff)
Hoe Down
Room 608
Chasin The Bird
Eternal Triangle
Cottontail
Celerity
Flintstones theme
Jumpin@ Woodside
Moose the Mooche
Five Brothers
Shaw Nuff
Salt Peanuts
Rhythm-a-ning
Oleo
The Theme

Cheers

Softly as in a Morning Sunrise

Infa Rae
Bup a Loup
Fried Bananas-It Could Happen To You
Nostalgia-Out Of Nowhere
Boston Bernie-All The things You Are
Prince Albert-All The Things You Are
Half Nelson-Lady Bird
Hot House-What is this Thing Called Love?
 Omicron-Woody n You
Injuns-Cherokee
Dear John-Giant Steps
Justice-Evidence-Just You Just Me
Ornithology-How High the Moon
26-2-Confirmation
Quicksilver-Lover Come Back to Me
Impressions-So What
Anti-Climax-So What
Cunning Lee-So What
Split Kick-Never Another You
Donna Lee-Indiana
Green St. Capers-Green Dolphin St.
Chick's Tune-You Stepped Out of a Dream
Waltz New-Some Day My Prince Will Come