Blues March is a jazz composition written by Benny Golson and first recorded by trumpeter Blue Mitchell for the Riverside album Big 6 in 1958 (recorded July 2-3, 1958). Some sources note an Art Blakey version on Moanin' recorded later that year, but the earliest recording is Blue Mitchell's Big 6. The piece is in 4/4 time and is inspired by New Orleans marching bands, starting in long meter and then returning to swing. Its straightforward harmony and distinct sections make it ideal for improvisation, and it has become a jazz standard. It is also commonly played by military and marching bands, and Golson’s theme has a subtle bugle-call orientation that gives the tune a period feel.
