Wolverine blues – Free Jazz Lead Sheet
Bb to Eb Major – Jelly Roll Morton 1923
Wolverine Blues by Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe (1923) is a jazz blues standard in Bb to Eb 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.
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“Wolverine Blues” was composed by Jelly Roll Morton in 1923 and is a classic of early jazz.
The tune features energetic rhythms and inventive improvisation, typical of New Orleans jazz.
It remains a staple for musicians studying traditional jazz techniques and early recordings.
About the composer: Jelly Roll Morton
Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe, known as Jelly Roll Morton, was an American jazz pianist, bandleader, and composer born in New Orleans around 1890. He is best known for his early compositions like "Jelly Roll Blues" and "New Orleans Blues," which helped establish jazz as a distinct genre. Morton's work as a composer and arranger played a key role in preserving jazz's improvisational roots in the early 20th century.