Dead man blues – Free Jazz Lead Sheet
Bb major – Jelly Roll Morton 1926
Dead Man Blues by Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe (1926) is a jazz blues standard in Bb major. Its blues-inflected harmonies and swing-oriented rhythm make it a favorite for both vocalists and instrumentalists. Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe was a pianist and bandleader whose influence shaped the sound of the era. The arrangement features call-and-response elements typical of early jazz blues performances.
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Support the projectAbout this song:
Dead Man Blues, composed and recorded in 1926 by Jelly Roll Morton and His Red Hot Peppers, blends structured arrangement with blues-based improvisation. This free online lead sheet reflects its twelve-bar blues framework, syncopated rhythms, and classic New Orleans ensemble style.
View this lead sheet online to study Morton’s compositional approach and early jazz call-and-response textures.
About the composer: Jelly Roll Morton
Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe, known as Jelly Roll Morton, was an American blues and jazz pianist, bandleader, and composer born in New Orleans around 1890. He is best known for inventing jazz and composing works like "King Porter Stomp," which became a swing standard.
Musical strucutre and form
This song is a typical 12 bar blues with a very memorable intro. The song has a specific horn arrangement with a very interesting clarinet line taking the main voice.
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