[Jazz] Jordan, Joe. (1882 - 1971)
"Crazy Blues" - Jordan's Personal Copy, SIGNED
New York: Perry Bradford. 1920. First edition. Rare signed sheet music from the early Jazz musician and composer. Sheet music for ‘Crazy Blues,’ 9 x 12, five pages, with Jordan's ownership stamps and signature in fountain pen on the front cover. In good condition, with heavy scattered soiling, some damp staining to the front cover, a few tears to the edges, some tape repairs to pages inside, and complete separation of the pages and binding. On pages 4 and 5, several lines of autograph alternative lyrics in Jordan's hand are barely visible, having been at some point nearly completely erased.In 1905, Jordan moved to NY to organize and direct a group called the "Memphis Students" (the 17 African-American men and women were neither students nor from Memphis). In "The Making of Harlem," James Weldon Johnson has written that this "playing-singing-dancing orchestra" was "the first modern jazz band ever heard on a New York stage." In 1909, Jordan collaborated with Bob Cole and J. Rosamond Johnson on "The Red Moon," and in 1910, he wrote "Lovie Joe" for Fanny Brice. Barred as a black man from entering the theater where Brice premiered the song, Jordan was forced to stand outside on the pavement and heard the public demanding eight encores. Other important collaborations with James P. Johnson and Fats Waller followed. (8609)
Signed Document/Item Jazz