Musical Analysis
"Body and Soul" is usually performed in the key of Db major. The tune consists of a repeated eight bar melody, followed by an eight bar bridge and a final eight bar return to the melody. The 32-bar, AABA form is typical of popular songs of the time. The 'A' section uses convential chord progressions including ii-V-I turnarounds in the home key of Db, however the bridge is highly unusual in its tonal center shifts. It has been described as "a bridge like no other". "Body and Soul" is considered a challenging piece to solo over, however the unusual nature of the chords provides a "large degree of improvisational freedom"
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