Billy Eckstine and Gerald Valentine composed "Second Balcony Jump," first recorded in March 1942 by Earl Hines and His Orchestra with Eckstine on vocals and Valentine serving as trombonist and arranger. The tune has become a jazz standard, recorded by artists including Dexter Gordon and Dizzy Gillespie. The composition exemplifies the sophisticated swing style of the early 1940s that bridged the gap to bebop.
