“Invitation” was composed by Bronisław Kaper for the 1952 film of the same name, with lyrics by Paul Francis Webster added later. Its dark, sweeping melody and constantly shifting harmony made it a favorite of post-bop players, including John Coltrane, Joe Henderson and many modern jazz musicians.
The tune is usually played in C minor, in a long form that moves through many key areas. It opens with C minor and a minor ii-V movement, then shifts through ii-V progressions into other minor and major keys, often descending by half steps or whole steps. The harmony is dense and dramatic, and many bands play the A sections with a Latin feel and the bridge in swing, though swing throughout is also common.
For improvisation, minor ii-V-i language is essential. Practice minor ii-Vs in all keys, since the tune visits many of them. Use melodic minor sounds over the minor chords and altered scales over the dominants for a modern color. Because the form is long, mark the key centers on your lead sheet and practice the transitions between them separately.
Practice slowly with a play-along, saying the key centers aloud. Learn the melody by heart; its long, dramatic phrases guide you through the harmony. Then improvise using guide tones and arpeggios before adding scale passages.
Transposing tip: Bb instruments read it in D minor, Eb instruments in A minor. Get a clean lead sheet in your key.
Getting the most from the Invitation Lead Sheet PDF: start by reading the chord symbols without your instrument and humming the roots. Then circle any chord you can’t yet voice or arpeggiate, and make those your warm-up for the week before you play the whole form.
Is it hard to play? It’s intermediate to advanced because of the long form and many key changes. Recordings to study: Joe Henderson’s versions and Coltrane’s recording. Learn more about the composer on Bronisław Kaper’s Wikipedia page, and find more minor-key lead sheets on Minedit.