Again, Never is a ballad composed by Bill Lee III, the jazz bassist, composer, and father of filmmaker Spike Lee. The tune was written for the soundtrack of the 1990 film Mo' Better Blues and first appeared on the album Music From Mo' Better Blues, performed by the Branford Marsalis Quartet featuring Terence Blanchard. The composition is a deeply melancholic piece with an introspective quality that has drawn comparisons to the lyrical balladry of Bill Evans. Its gentle swinging feel and expressive melody make it well suited for intimate trio or quartet settings, inviting unhurried improvisation. Lee's broader body of work as a composer and bassist includes collaborations with artists ranging from Bob Dylan to Max Roach, and his film scoring contributions to several of his son's early pictures helped define the sound of those productions. Again, Never remained a relative deep cut for decades, largely confined to the Mo' Better Blues soundtrack, but it gained renewed attention in 2025 when pianist Sullivan Fortner recorded a trio version on his album Southern Nights, highlighting the tune's enduring emotional resonance. On AllSolos, the composition is represented by Kenny Kirkland's piano solo from the original 1990 soundtrack recording, showcasing the late pianist's distinctive harmonic sensibility.
