“U.M.M.G.” stands for “Upper Manhattan Medical Group,” and was composed by Billy Strayhorn as a tribute to the medical practice of his friend Dr. Arthur Logan. Duke Ellington’s orchestra recorded it, and it has become a favorite of small groups who enjoy Strayhorn’s sophisticated harmony.
The tune is a swinging, medium-tempo piece with chord changes that move through ii-V progressions and chromatic shifts. The melody is elegant and rhythmic.
For improvisation, outline each ii-V clearly and connect chromatic movements with voice leading. Keep the swing light and sophisticated, in the Ellington spirit.
Practice the changes slowly, then at medium swing. Learn the melody by ear.
Section by section: the A sections move through ii-V progressions with chromatic shifts, so practice a two-bar ii-V lick and move it to each key center. In the bridge, the harmony opens up, giving you space for longer, lyrical phrases. Ellington’s band played the melody with a smooth, swinging section sound, and Joe Henderson’s later recording adds a modern edge. Keep your phrasing elegant and swinging.
Practice tip: write the guide-tone line for the whole tune on staff paper and play it as whole notes. Then turn it into half notes, quarter notes and finally eighth-note lines. This step-by-step method works especially well on Strayhorn’s sophisticated harmony.
Ear training with the UMMG Lead Sheet PDF: before reading along, listen to two different recordings and try to hear where each section starts. Then follow the lead sheet while listening. Connecting what you see to what you hear is how lead sheets turn into tunes you truly know.
How to use this UMMG Lead Sheet PDF: print it or keep it on a tablet, mark the form sections and key centers in pencil, and write the guide tones you want to target above the tricky bars. Revisit those notes after each practice session so the tune gets easier every week.
Is it hard to play? It’s intermediate. Recordings to study: Duke Ellington’s recordings and Joe Henderson’s Lush Life: The Music of Billy Strayhorn. Learn more about the composer on Billy Strayhorn’s Wikipedia page, and find more Strayhorn lead sheets on Minedit.