[Dixielandjazz] Steamboat Stomp

[ROBERT R. CALDER]

Actually the original had no vocal part. 

The story is this: Morton had an alcoholic friend called Tomp, and he composed a tune as a tribute to him. 
The nest thing was that Mrs. Tomp appeared at the studio just as Morton was about to record the tune. Everything was ready, but this woman kept screaming that she didn't want her husband to be memorialised as a lush, a soak, a souse, et shettera (hic!) 

Morton as a brilliantly resourceful talker, as well as a musical genius, suddenly started going on about a misunderstanding, and went round emending the title on everything from the contract to the otherwise blank page he had prepared for a member of the band who felt uncomfortable about reading sheet music. He added a few words, and while the band rehearsed a little lad went out to borrow the necessary item from a steamer on the nearest lake. 

And thus, until now, everyone has been deluded by the magnificent Mortonian blarney into supposing there was a tune called Steamboat Stomp, whereas of course the proper title paying tribute to Morton's sozzled buddy is STEAMBOATS TOMP. 

And of course I should have kept this back until Monday, but you can re-read this my latest contribution to jazz scholarship at the beginning of next month. 

Happy Easter Monday! 
Robert R. Calder