Head chart

DEFINITION

A slang expression, primarily in jazz, that refers to a performance of a composition where there is either no written music ( performed from memory or from their "heads") or where the performers use a fake book to provide the written melody and chord progression. The performers will then improvise the melody and harmony. The vast majority of songs performed this way are in the basic song form (A-A-B-A) where the A section is refered to as the head and the B section is refered to as the bridge.See also head arrangement.