h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I find it hard to accept that all jazz tunes are based on the changes in I got rhythm. Since jazz is such a wide eclectic umbrella for many modes of expression, it would be helpful to know which aspect of jazz is being referred to in the statement. Personally I find it hard to find the common link between say, Chris Barber's When the Saints go Marching In, or Midnight in Moscow, and Miles Davis' Amandla or Doo-Bop, all of which are classed as "Jazz"

The statement is qualified by the use of the word "If".

A google search for "I Got Rythem" brings up over 16,000 results, so I guess many people recognise the tunes importance.

Working on the standard western music scale there are only 12 semitone intervals to the octave, therefore options are limited, especially when most tunes only use seven. I suppose then that you can find a link to just about any tune from any other tune.

I got rythm

Bb Gm Cm7 F7 Bb Gm Cm7 F7
Bb Gm Eb Ebm Bb F Bb F7
Bb Gm Cm7 F7 Bb Gm Cm7 F7
Bb Gm Eb Ebm Bb F Bb
D7 D7 G7 G7
C7 C7 F7 F7
Bb Gm Cm7 F7 Bb Gm Cm7 F7
Bb Gm Eb Ebm Bb Ab7 G7
C7 F7 Bb

cheers, I'm away for my guitar to give it a try

I've always thought of jazz as being defined by the IIm7 - V7 - Imaj7 sequence. Or in the key of C: Am7-G7-Cmaj7. The minor 7th chord in particular does not seem to get much use in rock/pop. But jazz is big, and I am not too familiar with all of it. The Teaching Company in the USA has a great video (or audio) series of lectures on jazz, including the topic of Modal Jazz, (it's easy).