This impressively genuine blues probably was composed as a homage to the victims of the terrible hurricanes devastating the Everglades in the second half of the 20's. Cornetist Morris is largely forgotten today, which is a shame taking into account his talent. He was a prolific figure of the early New York jazz scene and appeared on around 150 recordings. He recorded with Fats Waller, Sidney Bechet, Charlie Johnson's Paradise Orchestra and Clarence Williams as well as accompanying Blues singers like Margaret Johnson, Sara Martin and Eva Taylor. He appeared briefly in the Bessie Smith film, "St. Louis Blues" in 1929. Some time in the early 1930s he left the music business worked as a Red Cap at Grand Central Station in New York. Thomas Morris was the uncle of Jazz pianist Marlowe Morris. This recording was made in 1926. I added some vintage 1910's-1920's pictures taken in the Everglades.
