[Dixielandjazz] Panama - "A Characteristic Novelty"

[Ingemar Wågerman]

Gota River Jazzmen recorded Panama on CD04 "The other Side of Town" in 
2000. Listen to the entire tune at http://listen.to/gotariver . (Maybe 
not the "definitive version", but...)  I have the following information 
in the liner notes:

*Panama,* "A Characteristic Novelty", was composed as a tango by William 
H. Tyers, published in 1911. It was used by the famous vaudeville 
actress, Aida Overton Walker and her Panama Girls. The tune should not 
be confused with *Panama Rag* by Ch. Seymour.

Interesting information at 
http://www.newworldrecords.org/liner_notes/80611.pdf and  
http://www.hurricanebrassband.nl/Repertoire%20panama.htm

Ingemar Wågerman
Gota River Jazzmen
Gothenburg, Sweden



Stephen G Barbone skrev:
> 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.
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> To unsubscribe or change your e-mail preferences for the Dixieland 
> Jazz Mailing list, or to find the online archives, please visit:
>
> http://ml.islandnet.com/mailman/listinfo/dixielandjazz
>
>
>
> Dixielandjazz mailing list
> Dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
>