Little Willie Leaps, recorded August 14, 1947, is a Miles Davis composition based on the chord changes of All God's Chillun Got Rhythm, performed by the Miles Davis All Stars at approximately 221-227 BPM in F with a 32-bar AA' form. Parker again plays tenor saxophone rather than alto, opening with a one-chorus solo that demonstrates his mastery of the larger instrument. Davis follows with a one-chorus trumpet solo, and John Lewis plays a full chorus on piano. The AA' form, dispensing with the usual bridge section, gives the tune a more linear, forward-driving quality than standard AABA structures. Parker's tenor playing, while distinctly his own in phrasing and conception, has a more robust, darker quality that contrasts with the brilliant sharpness of his alto work. This is one of four tracks from the August 1947 session released under Davis's name, documenting an important transitional moment as Davis began establishing his own identity as a bandleader while still working alongside Parker.
