King Porter Stomp
If you’ve danced at the Fed in the Main Ballroom or the Uptempo Side Room (on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month), chances are you’ve heard some version of King Porter Stomp. Created and composed by Jelly Roll Morton in 1905, it was a seminal contribution to what became Swing music a few decades later. One of the most recognizable versions of the tune was the arrangement by Fletcher Henderson for Benny Goodman’s band in 1935.
NPR recently did a story about King Porter Stomp, discussing the specific musical meaning of “stomp”, and Jelly Roll Morton and his influence on Jazz, including a rare audio interview with Jelly Roll himself! Click the player below to hear the story:
Jelly Roll Morton’s original version of King Porter Stomp:
Fletcher Henderson’s arrangement of King Porter Stomp by Benny Goodman and his Orchestra:
Keep scrolling for more links about Jelly Roll Morton, King Porter Stomp, and Fletcher Henderson:
NPR Source Audio for King Porter Stomp