This recording of "Jitterbug Waltz" comes from The Doug Webb Quartet's 2014 album Sets the Standard. Composed by Fats Waller, the tune is one of the most distinctive pieces in the jazz waltz repertoire, combining Waller's characteristic melodic charm with the rhythmic elegance of three-quarter time. Webb takes one chorus on soprano saxophone over the expansive 64-bar ABAB' form in E-flat at 146 BPM, crafting a solo that balances the tune's inherent playfulness with his own lyrical sensibility. His soprano tone is bright and focused, and the waltz rhythm brings out a lilting quality in his phrasing that differs from his swing-based work. Pianist Alan Broadbent follows with a full chorus of his own at the same tempo, navigating the long form with the structural command and harmonic creativity that have earned him widespread admiration as both a player and an arranger. The waltz feel is maintained throughout both solos, providing a swaying, dance-like foundation that connects the performance to the tune's origins in the swing era. Waller's composition has been recorded by artists as diverse as Thelonious Monk and Jaco Pastorius, and this quartet version adds another worthy interpretation to a rich history. The track showcases the group's ability to honor the spirit of a classic while making it unmistakably their own.
