Published:
2011-10-01
Updated:
2022-11-28
Learning Ukulele with Curt
Blue Bossa
Blue Bossa is an instrumental jazz composition by Kenny Dorham (August 30, 1924 - December 5, 1972). It was introduced on Joe Henderson's 1963 album Page One. A blend of hard bop and bossa nova, the tune was possibly influenced by Dorham's visit to the Rio de Janeiro Jazz Festival in 1961. The tune has since been recorded numerous times by different artists, making it a jazz standard.
Author(s): Curt Sheller Publisher: Curt Sheller Publications Code: UL430
Main Category: Amplifiers Main Instrument: Any
Categories: Jazz
2026-08-19
RelatedSongAssets
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Blue Bossa is an instrumental jazz composition by Kenny Dorham (August 30, 1924 - December 5, 1972). It was introduced on Joe Henderson's 1963 album Page One. A blend of hard bop and bossa nova, the tune was possibly influenced by Dorham's visit to the Rio de Janeiro Jazz Festival in 1961. The tune has since been recorded numerous times by different artists, making it a jazz standard.
Blue Bossa modulates to one additional key from the home key of Cm. In the common key of Cm that Blue Bossa is typically performed in it modulates between the keys of C Minor and Db Major . The key is remembering the triggers to get from one key center to the next.
A Root Movement Analysis chart is below .
Blue Bossa is in the
Real Book - Volume 1
— Sixth Edition book.
How About More Uke?
Blue Bossa is on Curt's, 2015 How About More Uke?, The Curt Sheller Jazz Trio CD.
Curt, your CD was fantastic. You are among the ukulele masters of our day.
— John K.
Blue Bossa
Premium Play-along Tracks are only available to Premium
members and Active/Private Students.
Here is a Demo of Desafinado to get an idea of the quality of these custom play-along tracks.
Play-along Demo: Desafinado
Desafinado — Premium Play-along Track with Guitar Melody Played
I, (Curt) originally created these tracks to perform over for gigs and this was a demo for booking gigs.
These Premium Play-along Tracks are available to LearningUkulele.com & Learning Ukulele with Curt. Site Members and are my personal one-of-kind tracks I (Curt) and Chuck Anderson recorded and arranged last century.
More Blue Bossa
content below, continue exploring...
More Blue Bossa
History
Blue Bossa is an instrumental jazz composition by Kenny Dorham (August 30, 1924 - December 5, 1972). It was introduced on Joe Henderson's 1963 album Page One. A blend of hard bop and bossa nova, the tune was possibly influenced by Dorham's visit to the Rio de Janeiro Jazz Festival in 1961. The tune has since been recorded numerous times by different artists, making it a jazz standard.
Blue Bossa is a great as one the first several songs that aspiring jazz players should learn.
Blue Bossa
This lessons/song includes: Play-along Lead Sheet, Ukulele TAB of Melody, Melody and Chord Ukulele arrangement, example chords and scales for accompaniment and improv.
Blue Bossa
Traditional head chords with a different solo section.
Premium Play-along Tracks are only available to Premium
members and Active/Private Students.
Here is a Demo of Desafinado to get an idea of the quality of these custom play-along tracks.
Play-along Demo: Desafinado
Desafinado — Premium Play-along Track with Guitar Melody Played
I, (Curt) originally created these tracks to perform over for gigs and this was a demo for booking gigs.
These Premium Play-along Tracks are available to LearningUkulele.com & Learning Ukulele with Curt. Site Members and are my personal one-of-kind tracks I (Curt) and Chuck Anderson recorded and arranged last century.
Harmonic Analysis (RMA)
Blue Boss
Here is a scan of my original, from the 1980's Root Movement Analysis (RMA) chart.
An RMA chart allows you to determine the chord functions and an in turn what scale can be used for improvisation.
Notice the modulation between the keys of C Minor and Db Major . With ALL the chord being Full Diatonic to their respective major and minor keys.
A more modern take
You can actually get away with using two(2) scales. C Natural Minor on all the chords in the Cm section and the Db Major scale on the Db section.
Root Movement Analysis (RMA) Chart – 1980s
Frank Vignola's Blue Bossa Chord Progression Jam
Blue Bossa
Blue Bossa is an instrumental jazz composition by Kenny Dorham (August 30, 1924 - December 5, 1972). It was introduced on Joe Henderson's 1963 album Page One. A blend of hard bop and bossa nova, the tune was possibly influenced by Dorham's visit to the Rio de Janeiro Jazz Festival in 1961. The tune has since been recorded numerous times by different artists, making it a jazz standard.