Steamboat stomp – Free Jazz Lead Sheet
Eb to Ab Major – 1926
About this song:
steamboat stomp, composed by Jelly Roll Morton in 1923, is an exuberant New Orleans jazz instrumental that captures the rhythmic vitality of early jazz. The tune is characterized by energetic ensemble interplay and danceable syncopation.
The first recording was by Jelly Roll Morton and His Red Hot Peppers in Chicago, highlighting his inventive arrangements and stride piano style. Later revivals by traditional jazz bands and swing ensembles celebrated its spirited character.
The composition employs a multi-strain structure with call-and-response sections, polyrhythms, and improvisational breaks, making it a classic example of early jazz orchestration and parade-style performance.
