Van Gogh's Left Ear was composed by Kenny Garrett and first recorded on his 1992 album Black Hope, released on Warner Bros. Records. The composition is a waltz written in 3/4 time in D minor at 122 beats per minute, an unusual metrical choice that sets it apart from much of the post-bop repertoire. Its harmonic progressions have been characterized as functionally elusive, resisting explanation through traditional harmonic analysis. This quality has earned the tune recognition in jazz education, where it appears in Berklee College of Music's curriculum alongside works by Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Kenny Wheeler, and Richie Beirach as an example of advanced harmonic practice. Garrett has described the compositional process for Black Hope as collaborative and spontaneous, with material sometimes developed through an exchange in which a collaborator would present ideas via computer and Garrett would respond by improvising melodies on the spot. He composes on both piano and saxophone, allowing melodies to emerge organically across instruments. The original recording features Garrett on soprano saxophone rather than his usual alto, accompanied by Kenny Kirkland on piano, Donald Brown on synthesizer, Charnett Moffett on bass, Brian Blade on drums, and Don Alias on percussion. On AllSolos, the recording from Black Hope features solos by Garrett on soprano saxophone and Kirkland on piano, highlighting the composition's harmonic depth through two contrasting improvisational voices.
