Autograph musical quotation from the important jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader, who has penned four chords from his song "Mood Indigo," dated October 10, 1944. He has signed boldly below, apparently on an earlier occasion, and dated Chicago, May 14, 1936. The small album leaf is additionally signed at the left by jazz violinist and bandleader Ben Bernie, dated Chicago, November 15, 1932; and by composer and bandleader Paul Ash, who has penned two measures of the song "I Do, Do You," dating March 17, 1926. On the verso, the leaf is also signed by Minnesota governor and Republican presidential candidate Harold Stassen. Toning and some light edge wear; overall fine. 6 x 3.75 inches (15.2 x 9.7 cm).

"Mood Indigo" (1930) is a jazz composition and song, with music by Duke Ellington and Barney Bigard with lyrics by Irving Mills.  Ellington's biographer, Terry Teachout, described it as "an imperishable classic, one of a handful of songs that come to mind whenever Ellington's name is mentioned anywhere in the world".   Originally titled "Dreamy Blues," the tune was composed for a radio broadcast in October 1930 and was "the first tune I ever wrote specially for microphone transmission," Ellington recalled. "The next day wads of mail came in raving about the new tune, so Irving Mills put a lyric to it." Renamed "Mood Indigo," it became a jazz standard.