[Dixielandjazz] Panama - Original Sheet Music

[Stephen G Barbone]

Well, I got an education about "Panama" earlier this evening. I  
rehearsed with Tex Wyndham's rehearsal band and I asked him about it.  
(Whether or not you like Tex, IMO, the man knows as much or more about  
OKOM than anyone else out there)

Sheet Music:  In all his 60 years of collecting original sheet music,  
he never saw an original  of Panama. HOWEVER, he does have a photo  
copy of the original piano sheet music which I looked at.

Surprise Surprise. It is a 4 strain tune plus intro and tag. We almost  
all play the correct intro (more or less) but I'd bet the Farm damn  
few of us play the original tag. It is not the ending that is in  
Sheik's fake book (which most bands play) but an entirely different  
one that I have never heard anyone play. Tex has no info on who first  
added the current tag.

AND, the tune is written with a LATIN BEAT.  Rhumba or Tango time?  
Possibly influence of the Spanish Tinge which was prevalent in Jazz at  
the time Panama was written.

PLUS, the descending chorus (E Strain Out Chorus in Sheik's Fake Book  
which almost all bands play) is not in the original sheet music. Tex  
has no info on who first added the descending chorus.

So if we want to do the original Panama, maybe we should listen to  
some Tito Puente. <grin>

Regarding the chords, I posted previously (Tex's Version) His are  
pretty close to the original sheet music, except for the tag and the  
descending chorus. He added those from records. Probably from Turk  
Murphy's version. As he put it, his version is an amalgam of original  
sheet music and various records.

We also listened to and discussed a Condon gang recording and found  
that the solo chorus they use is not in the original sheet music  
either, but a variation.

So as Sheik asked, "What is the definitive record of Panama?"

I figure there are two possible answers.

1) There is none. OR
2) Which ever one you like best.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone
www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband

PS. I have heard there is a Stomp Off record release with a band doing  
the latin beat Panama. Possibly The Louisiana Repertory Jazz Ensemble  
or New Orleans Ragtime Orchestra or Pacific Coast Ragtime Orchestra?  
Neither Tex nor I are sure if any are done to the original sheet  
music, not having heard these versions.