DEAD MAN BLUES - Free Jazz Leadsheet

"dead man blues" was composed by Jelly Roll Morton and first recorded by Morton’s Red Hot Peppers in 1926 in Chicago. The piece reflects Morton’s signature blend of blues-infused jazz, with syncopated rhythms and melodic storytelling.

The original recording featured piano, cornet, clarinet, and trombone, creating a rich texture that highlighted Morton's compositional style. Later interpretations have kept the tune alive in both traditional and modern jazz circles, emphasizing improvisation and ensemble interaction.

Structurally, the tune employs a twelve-bar blues framework while allowing space for lyrical solos and dynamic call-and-response exchanges between instruments, making it a staple of early jazz repertoire.