DUSKY STEVEDORE - Free Jazz Leadsheet

"dusky stevedore" was composed by W.C. Handy in 1912. The song evokes early blues and work-song traditions, reflecting the rhythms and experiences of laborers, often interpreted with a relaxed, swinging feel.

The first recording was by Handy’s orchestra in New York, with cornet, piano, and trombone emphasizing melodic lines and call-and-response phrasing. Later jazz ensembles and blues musicians have kept the tune in the repertoire.

Structurally, it follows a 12-bar blues framework with expressive melodic contours, leaving room for improvisation and ensemble interplay, making it ideal for small-group jazz settings.