Hit That Jive Jack was composed by Campbell "Skeets" Tolbert and John Alston. It is a contrafact based on the chord changes of I Got Rhythm. The tune is a lively swing-era number characterized by its upbeat, riff-based melody and playful jive-talk lyrics that evoke the streetwise slang of 1940s Harlem nightlife. Built on short, punchy phrases delivered over a driving swing groove, the song follows a standard 32-bar AABA form at a brisk tempo, emphasizing rhythmic energy and danceability over harmonic complexity. It was first recorded by Skeets Tolbert and His Gentlemen of Distinction, reflecting Tolbert's work as a pianist and bandleader in the swing and jump blues scene of the late 1930s and early 1940s. While the tune remains more of a deep cut than a core jazz standard, it has resurfaced periodically in modern swing revival contexts. A compilation of Tolbert's recordings titled Hit That Jive Jack was released on Jazz League Music in 2016, collecting 22 tracks from his output. On AllSolos, Diana Krall and Russell Malone perform the tune on the 1995 album All for You, with transcribed solos for piano and electric guitar that bring a smooth, contemporary jazz vocal approach to the original swing material.
