Perdido is a jazz standard composed by Juan Tizol, a longtime member of Duke Ellington's orchestra. Written in 1941 with lyrics added in 1944 by Ervin Drake and Hans Lengsfelder, the tune takes its name from Perdido Street in Storyville, New Orleans, though the lyrics do not describe it directly; Perdido means lost in Spanish. It is a jazz standard with swing and bebop influences, and its simple, memorable melody has made it a favorite for jam sessions. The piece was first recorded for radio transcription by Duke Ellington on December 3, 1941, and re-recorded for Victor on January 21, 1942. Lyrics were rarely used with Ellington's band, except on Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Songbook, a 1957 recording. The tune has been recorded by many jazz greats—Ben Webster, Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington, Art Tatum, Quincy Jones, the Charlie Parker Quintet, Dave Brubeck, and Charles Mingus among them—and remains a staple of the jazz repertoire.
