[Dixielandjazz] Panama - "A Characteristic Novelty"

[David M Richoux]

Well,

I knew as soon as I posted some tentative research somebody else would  
have some more factual info. Thanks Ingemar!

The Dapogny version I mentioned sounds very much like the several  
*Panama,* "A Characteristic Novelty" piano solos I just found  
searching on the full title. Since James Dapogny is a music scholar as  
well as a performer, I have to assume his band was playing from an  
arrangement based very closely on the original version...

David Richoux

On Oct 6, 2009, at 9:44 PM, Ingemar Wågerman wrote:

> 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.
>>