Footprints (composition)

Footprints is a jazz standard composed by Wayne Shorter, first appearing on his 1966 album Adam's Apple.

Whilst in 6/4 metre, it is debatable whether it could be called a jazz waltz, since the feel could be divided into compound duple or simple triple time.

Harmonically, it takes the form of a 12-bar C minor blues, but this is heavily masked not only by its triple time signature but by its avant garde turnaround (series of chords that return back to the main, or I chord).

In the key of C minor, a normal turnaround would be Dm7(b5), G7, Cm7. But Shorter doubles the harmonic rhythm of the turnaround, and the progression reads: F#m7b5, F7#11, Eaug7(#9), A7(#9), Cm7.

The best-known recorded version is on the 1966 Miles Davis album Miles Smiles.