Detour Ahead is a jazz standard written in 1948 by Lou Carter, Herb Ellis, and Johnny Frigo, who were members of The Soft Winds after leaving Jimmy Dorsey’s orchestra. The lyrics compare love’s progress to a motor trip, using a detour as a metaphor for relationship challenges. The song was first recorded in 1949 by Woody Herman and His Orchestra with Mary Ann McCall on vocals, and the writing credits are shared among Carter, Frigo, and Ellis. A notable instrumental version is Bill Evans’ interpretation on his 1962 album Interplay, which highlights the piece’s lyrical melody and rich harmonies. Detour Ahead remains a 1940s jazz standard that has been performed by many artists across decades.
