TEXAS MOANER BLUES - Free Jazz Leadsheet

"Texas Moaner Blues" was written by Clarence Williams and first published in 1924. The initial recording was made on March 5, 1924, in New York by Clarence Williams' Blue Five, featuring Sidney Bechet on soprano saxophone and a young Louis Armstrong on cornet, marking one of their early recorded collaborations.

The tune later reappeared in jazz revival recordings and remains a favorite among traditional jazz groups. Its lyrics evoke a mournful yet spirited Southern blues atmosphere, while the musical foundation rests on a 12-bar blues form enriched by early New Orleans ensemble interplay. The contrast between expressive solo phrases and ensemble passages gives the piece its distinctive, earthy character.