Rounder Records announce the release of the first complete and unexpurgated 1938 Library of Congress recordings, on 7 CDs, plus a bonus CD of interviews of Jelly Roll Morton’s peers by Alan Lomax. Remastered from the original acetate discs at the Library of Congress using Sony Direct Stream Digital technology, and restored using the Cedar Cambridge™ system. Includes Alan Lomax’s acclaimed biography, “Mister Jelly Roll,” plus a new 80-page book with an appreciation by John Szwed and many rare photographs.

Jelly Roll Morton



Jelly Roll Morton
The Complete Library of Congress Recordings
Winner 48th Annual GRAMMY Awards 2006
Best Album Notes — Best Historical Album

In the same period that Jelly Roll Morton began making acoustic recordings of his piano solos, he was also making piano rolls of his strongest material. This CD presents piano rolls that Morton made in 1924 and 1926, and producer Artis Wodehouse has done a remarkable job of recording them, capturing them with a convincingly live resonance. Morton was keenly aware of studio technology, and it’s fascinating to hear him exploit the extended playing time that the piano rolls provided him. Several of these pieces stretch past four minutes, and tracks like “Stratford Hunch” and “Dead Man Blues” allow Morton to extend his variations further than recording allowed, providing another opportunity to hear Morton’s innovative synthesis of ragtime, blues, and spontaneous inspiration. The piano sound compares favorably with even well-restored versions of Morton’s contemporaneous acoustic recordings for Gennett, with brighter highs and firmer bass notes. — Stuart Broomer

Jelly Roll Morton
“The Piano Rolls”

JELLY ROLL MORTON : THE PIANO ROLLS — NONESUCH

Shellwood Productions announce the release of the following CD of Jelly Roll Morton piano rolls. The recordings, produced under the direction of Mike Lorenzini, utilize a fully restored Aeolian 88-note push-up Pianola and a top-class 208cm Sieler grand piano. The CD features 17 Mike Meddings arrangements and 5 original Jelly Roll Morton piano rolls. Shellwood Productions catalogue also includes CDs of the music of Harry Warren and Billy Mayerl played by Alex Hassan.

Jelly Roll Morton
“Piano Rolls”

JELLY ROLL MORTON : PIANO ROLLS — SWCD22

Shellwood Productions announce the release of the following CD of J. Lawrence Cook piano rolls. The recordings, produced under the direction of Mike Lorenzini, utilize a fully restored Aeolian 88-note push-up Pianola and a top-class 208cm Sieler grand piano. The CD features 31 piano roll recordings by the world’s most prolific music roll arranger.

J. Lawrence Cook
“Piano Rolls”

J. LAWRENCE COOK : PIANO ROLLS — SWCD23

Bob Greene, founder of the legendary “World of Jelly Roll Morton” band, delighted audiences during the 1970s and 80s with re-creations of tunes by Jelly Roll Morton’s Red Hot Peppers. The CD was recorded live during a concert in Hatfield, England in May, 1982. This was to be the last appearance together of five of the original members of the band — the fabled Tommy Benford, Herb Hall, John Williams, Ernie Carson and Bob Greene.

Bob Greene’s
“World of Jelly Roll Morton”

WORLD OF JELLY ROLL MORTON — GHB-415

“Pam Pameijer’s New Jazz Wizards” recreate Morton’s recordings and — with expert musicians who include the Jelly Roll Morton specialist English pianist Ray Smith, Peter Ecklund (c); Billy Novick (cl-as); John Otto (cl-ts); Jim Snyder (tb); Howard Alden (bj-g); Vince Giordano (bb-sb); Pam Pameijer (d) — the result is glorious, melodic, exciting jazz that will thrill his admirers.

“Pam” Pameijer’s New Jazz Wizards
“The Music of Jelly Roll Morton”

THE MUSIC OF JELLY ROLL MORTON — VOL. 1 — STOMP OFF-1318

International jazz pianist and Jelly Roll Morton devotee Butch Thompson performs piano solos of Jelly Roll’s music from “Perfect Rag” to “Don’t You Leave Me Here.” He has led his own trio since the mid-60s. During 1974-86 he appeared regularly on Garrison Keillor’s very popular radio series “A Prairie Home Companion.”

Butch Thompson
“New Orleans Joys”

BUTCH THOMPSON : NEW ORLEANS JOYS

American composer and concert pianist Richard Trythall recorded his contemporary note-for-note transcriptions of 17 of Jelly Roll Morton’s solo piano works in 2001. The CD, “Jelly Roll Morton Piano Music” has been hailed for “bringing alive the unbridled virtuosity of Jelly Roll Morton.”

Richard Trythall
“Jelly Roll Morton Piano Music”

JELLY ROLL MORTON PIANO MUSIC — MR-10047

Since 2003, Jim Turner has been the pianist in the Jim Cullum Jazz Band based in San Antonio, Texas, the only full-time, professional, traditional jazz band in the United States. He may be heard on the band’s weekly syndicated radio program “Riverwalk Jazz” on the PRI Radio Network. Born and raised in Southern California, Jim earned a degree in composition and arranging from the College of Creative Studies at the University of California at Santa Barbara. He also studied privately with his father, noted pianist and teacher Robert E. Turner, and with jazz pianists Johnny Guarnieri and Dick Cary in Los Angeles.

Jim Turner’s
“Jelly Roll Blues”

JIM TURNER’S : JELLY ROLL BLUES — ARCD 19392

Recorded live at Bimbo’s 365 club in San Francisco, this performance was a celebration of Charles “Duff” Campbell’s 90th birthday on Jan. 9, 2005. The band Duff chose to provide the “real and righteous” jazz for his celebration was the Yerba Buena Stompers, an 8-piece, 2 trumpet band that performs in the style of the 1941—1950 Lu Watters’ Yerba Buena Jazz Band’s traditional jazz generic name “Dixieland jazz.” Personnel: Leon Oakley (tp); Duke Heitger (tp); Tom Bartlett (tb); Evan Christopher (cl); Marty Eggers (p); John Gill (bj-voc-dialogue); Ray Cadd (bb); Clint Baker (d).

Yerba Buena Stompers
“Duff Campbell’s Revenge”

YERBA BUENA STOMPERS : DUFF CAMPBELL’S REVENGE

Rare and unissued recordings of “Kansas City Frank” Melrose from the collection of Dr. John Steiner. Produced by Hal Smith, with authoritative biographical notes by Ida Melrose Shoufler and Hal Smith.

“Kansas City Frank” Melrose
“Jelly Roll Stomp”

JELLY ROLL STOMP — BSCD-35

Document Records, who produce rare vintage Blues, Jazz, Boogie-Woogie and Gospel music, have issued two CDs, shown below, which include rare tunes played by “Kansas City Frank” Melrose.

“Kansas City Frank” Melrose
“Black and White Piano”

BLACK and WHITE PIANO — VOL. 2 — DOCD-5597

“Kansas City Frank” Melrose
“Black and White Piano”

BLACK and WHITE PIANO — VOL. 3 — DOCD-5655

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