Panama (jazz standard)
Encyclopedia
Panama is a jazz standard
. It is by William H. Tyers, originally entitled "Panama, a Characteristic Novelty", published in 1912.
As expected of a jazz standard
, it has been played and recorded by a number of jazz legends including the New Orleans Rhythm Kings
, Sharkey Bonano
, Kid Ory
, the Eureka Brass Band
, Humphrey Lyttelton
and many others.
The famous trumpet variation commonly played by New Orleans, Louisiana
bands and those influenced by the New Orleans style, was reportedly devised by Manuel Manetta
who first taught it to his start trumpet pupils Emmett Hardy
and Red Allen
.
The original tango or maxie
rhythm is usually disgarded in favor of 4/4 time, but can still be detected in some versions, such as the early recording by Johnny DeDroit's Band.
Some later generations have sometimes confused it with a totally different piece of a similar name, a ragtime
number composed by Charles Seymour (composer) in 1904 called Panama Rag. This lesser known number has been recorded by the New Orleans Ragtime Orchestra and was reportedly played by Buddy Bolden
when the tune was new, but is rather obscure and far from a standard.
Jazz standard
Jazz standards are musical compositions which are an important part of the musical repertoire of jazz musicians, in that they are widely known, performed, and recorded by jazz musicians, and widely known by listeners. There is no definitive list of jazz standards, and the list of songs deemed to be...
. It is by William H. Tyers, originally entitled "Panama, a Characteristic Novelty", published in 1912.
As expected of a jazz standard
Jazz standard
Jazz standards are musical compositions which are an important part of the musical repertoire of jazz musicians, in that they are widely known, performed, and recorded by jazz musicians, and widely known by listeners. There is no definitive list of jazz standards, and the list of songs deemed to be...
, it has been played and recorded by a number of jazz legends including the New Orleans Rhythm Kings
New Orleans Rhythm Kings
The New Orleans Rhythm Kings were one of the most influential jazz bands of the early-to-mid 1920s. The band was a combination of New Orleans and Chicago musicians who helped shape Chicago Jazz and influenced many younger jazz musicians....
, Sharkey Bonano
Sharkey Bonano
Joseph "Sharkey" Bonano was a jazz trumpeter, band leader, and vocalist....
, Kid Ory
Kid Ory
Edward "Kid" Ory was a jazz trombonist and bandleader. He was born in Woodland Plantation near LaPlace, Louisiana.-Biography:...
, the Eureka Brass Band
Eureka Brass Band
The Eureka Brass Band was a brass band from New Orleans, active from 1920 to 1975.The group was founded by trumpeter Willie Wilson, and its early members included clarinetists Willie Parker, John Casimir, and George Lewis...
, Humphrey Lyttelton
Humphrey Lyttelton
Humphrey Richard Adeane Lyttelton , also known as Humph, was an English jazz musician and broadcaster, and chairman of the BBC radio comedy programme I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue...
and many others.
The famous trumpet variation commonly played by New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
bands and those influenced by the New Orleans style, was reportedly devised by Manuel Manetta
Manuel Manetta
Manuel "Fess" Manetta was an American jazz multi-instrumentalist. He was a fixture of the New Orleans jazz scene for much of the 20th century....
who first taught it to his start trumpet pupils Emmett Hardy
Emmett Hardy
Emmett Louis Hardy was an early jazz cornet player and one of the best regarded New Orleans musicians of his generation....
and Red Allen
Red Allen
Henry James "Red" Allen was a jazz trumpeter and vocalist whose style has been claimed to be the first to fully incorporate the innovations of Louis Armstrong.-Life and career:...
.
The original tango or maxie
Maxie
-Given name:* Madcap Maxie , American world champion heavyweight boxer* Maxie Anderson, American hot air balloonist* Maxie Baughan, American football player* Maxie Berger, Canadian world champion junior welterweight boxer...
rhythm is usually disgarded in favor of 4/4 time, but can still be detected in some versions, such as the early recording by Johnny DeDroit's Band.
Some later generations have sometimes confused it with a totally different piece of a similar name, a ragtime
Ragtime
Ragtime is an original musical genre which enjoyed its peak popularity between 1897 and 1918. Its main characteristic trait is its syncopated, or "ragged," rhythm. It began as dance music in the red-light districts of American cities such as St. Louis and New Orleans years before being published...
number composed by Charles Seymour (composer) in 1904 called Panama Rag. This lesser known number has been recorded by the New Orleans Ragtime Orchestra and was reportedly played by Buddy Bolden
Buddy Bolden
Charles "Buddy" Bolden was an African American cornetist and is regarded by contemporaries as a key figure in the development of a New Orleans style of rag-time music which later came to be known as jazz.- Life :...
when the tune was new, but is rather obscure and far from a standard.
Recordings
- The Big Chief Jazz Band. Recorded in OsloOsloOslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
on June 7, 1955. Released on the 78 rpm record PhilipsPhilipsKoninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. , more commonly known as Philips, is a multinational Dutch electronics company....
P 53033 H.