[Dixielandjazz] Panama database and sheet

[dwlit at cpcug.org]

Hi gang. Hopefully this will be the last entry in the "Panama" thread

Panama database

Goal: to find the best recording for musicians wanting to learn the tune.
Re "Panama" p. 148 in my "Dixieland Fake Book Vol. 1"

The routines on the records differ so wildly, and the lead horn often
embellishes the melody so much, that learning the tune with some
accuracy is extremely difficult.

I made a database of ca. 40 "Panama" records from the 20s-90s,
with fields for each strain and a field for routines found. This
enabled me to compare the various recordings to find:

1. modifications of my lead sheet that might be necessary,
2. records people could use to learn the tune.

Copies of the original sheet music and orchestration revealed so
many differences between the published music and the "standard" jazz
versions that for my lead sheet,I continue to aim at the "standard" jazz
version, not go back to the original.

I haven't been able to find my sources for the sheet, which was
made in late 1999 or early 2000. It must have been a good one, as I
found that my strains and the Ending are essentially accurate, and indeed,
surprisingly, I have been able to document from one or more records
the vast majority of the melody notes and their phrasing in each measure.

My one major discovery is that many records insert  a solo strain
with the chord pattern
(In Ab) Db///   ////   Ab///   ////,  Eb7///   ////   Ab///   //// 
[repeat 8 bars]
(sometimes in Eb)
I inserted the chords for that into the upgraded sheet as an option.

I noted a few records that are useful models for learners. These
are the best records for learning the tunes.

The printed version of the database has 3 fields:
Artist, routine, whether the record is a useful model for learners.

I'll send it and a .pdf of my sheet to those who request them.

--Sheik