The Gravy Waltz is a jazz tune written by Ray Brown with later English lyrics added by Steve Allen. It is a happy, lightly swinging bop composition in 3/4 time, known for its tricky stairstep melody and its unusual, humorous title. The piece was first recorded by the Oscar Peterson Trio on July 29, 1961, with the first release appearing in August 1962 by Herb Ellis. Steve Allen later added lyrics and the song won a Grammy, helping it become one of Ray Brown’s best known works. Since then it has been performed by many artists across decades, including Sarah Vaughan, Bill Henderson with the Oscar Peterson Trio, Clark Terry, and numerous others, solidifying its status as a jazz standard.
