C Jam Blues is a jazz standard composed by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn for Duke Ellington's Orchestra. It evolved from an informal 1941 blues called C Blues led by Barney Bigard and quickly developed into a twelve-bar blues in the key of C, with the name C Jam Blues emerging after the Soundie Jam Session filmed in Hollywood in late 1941. The first formal recording under the title C Jam Blues was made on January 21, 1942 in Chicago for Victor with Duke Ellington on piano and a frontline including Ray Nance, Rex Stewart, Ben Webster, Tricky Sam Nanton and Barney Bigard, among others - the release later appeared on Ellington compilation albums such as Never No Lament: The Blanton-Webster Band. The tune is a staple of the Ellington repertoire and is widely recognized as a vehicle for improvised solos by various members of the Blanton Webster band; a later vocal version with lyrics became Duke's Place. The piece is categorized as jazz and swing, built on a simple blues form, and remains a popular showcase for musicians and for listening back to Ellington's leadership and Strayhorn's harmonic touch.
