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Yamekraw, a Negro Rhapsody is a jazz musical composition written by James P. Johnson in 1927 about a neighborhood of Savannah, Georgia.[1] It was a response to George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. It was initially composed for the piano, but was first performed at Carnegie Hall as a jazz-like orchestral arrangement.[2] A recording was made of Johnson performing the music on piano. A film inspired by the song was also made.
Yamacraw was a black neighborhood in Savannah, Georgia. The song was inspired by the culture of the neighborhood, and billed as a more "authentic" rhapsody.[3][4][failed verification]
Murray Roth directed a short 1930 musical film inspired by the song.[5] The film has been referred to by the title Yamekraw and Yamacraw.[6] It is a Vitaphone Varieties film produced by Warner Brothers. The film depicts a poor man from a rural area travelling to a large city where he encounters a dancer.[7] Jimmy Mordecai portrayed the lead character.[8] In the film, Yamekraw is described as a settlement outside Savannah, Georgia. The film was shown in 2009.[9] The song is included on the album The Symphonic Jazz of James P. Johnson.
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