Jelly Roll Morton: 1926-1930 [Box set]

Amazon.com
In both sound quality and price, England's JSP Records continues to put the American major labels to shame with their prewar jazz collections. Following superb multidisc releases of seminal recordings by Louis Armstrong and Django Reinhardt, JSP now offers this Jelly Roll Morton compendium, which includes all his Victor recordings from 1926 to 1930. Thanks to the work of remastering guru John R.T. Davies and a sinfully reasonable price, this five-disc collection far surpasses any U.S. release. The music is exuberant and evocative throughout, as Morton's substantial composing and arranging talents come into clear focus. He was able to maintain the joyous ensemble spirit of New Orleans jazz while continuing the music's evolution toward swing's sophistication. Focusing on Morton's Chicago prime, volume 1 is full of highlights, not just of this set, but of early jazz as a whole. Especially noteworthy is the trio date with the Dodds brothers, from June 1927, that yielded "The Pearls," "Wolverine Blues," and "Mr. Jelly Lord."

Volume 2 follows Morton to New York and features a few forceful piano solos, a strong session with trumpeter Red Allen and unsung clarinet player Albert Nicholas, plus a standout trio date with clarinetist Barney Bigard and drummer Zutty Singleton. Volume 3 is not as consistently brilliant, but offers some gems as well, including cuts with Nicholas and trumpeter Ward Pinkett on board from July 1930. The final two discs contain mostly alternative takes, but unfortunately, the masters of Morton's terrific New York session debut are for some reason buried at the end of disc four's alternates. It is, however, a tiny caveat considering the overall worth of this indispensable box. --Marc Greilsamer

Jelly Roll Morton: 1926-1930,Jelly Roll Morton,Jsp Records,Classic Jazz,Composer,Jazz,Jazz Music,Jazz Traditional,Leader,New Orleans Jazz,Pop

Average customer rating: outstanding... Gems from the 1920s Excellent And Superior Set: Best By Far! Great Set -- unfortunate that it's JSP Technically great but leaves this twenties fan cold

Jelly Roll Morton: 1926-1930 Jelly Roll Morton Manufacturer: Jsp Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music New Orleans Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music Traditional Jazz General | Traditional Jazz & Ragtime | Jazz | Styles | Music Bargain Box Sets | Jazz General | Jazz | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Jazz General | Jazz | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music Similar Items: The Hot Fives & Sevens Handful of Keys King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band: The Complete Set Birth of the Hot Masterpieces: 1926-1949 ASIN: B00004WK09 Release Date: 2000-09-12

Tracks:

1. Black Bottom Stomp
2. Smoke House Blues
3. The Chant
4. Sidewalk Blues
5. Dead Man Blues
6. Steamboat Stomp
7. Someday Sweetheart
8. Grandpa's Spells
9. Original Jelly Roll Blues
10. Doctor Jazz
11. Cannonball Blues
12. Hyena Stomp
13. Billy Goat Stomp
14. Wild Man Blues
15. Jungle Blues
16. Beale Street Blues
17. The Pearls
18. Wolverine Blues
19. Mr. Jelly Lord

Tracks:

1. Red Hot Pepper
2. Deep Creek
3. Pep
4. Seattle Hunch
5. Frances (Fat Frances)
6. Freakish
7. Burnin' The Iceberg
8. Courthouse Bump
9. Pretty Lil
10. Sweet Aneta Mine
11. New Orleans Bump
12. Down My Way
13. Try Me Out
14. Tank Town Bump
15. Sweet Peter
16. Jersey Joe
17. Mississippi Mildred
18. Mint Julep
19. Smilin' The Blues Away
20. Turtle Twist
21. My Little Dixie Home
22. That's Like It Ought To Be

Tracks:

1. Each Day
2. If Somebody Would Only Love Me
3. That'll Never Do
4. I'm Looking For A Little Bluebird
5. Little Lawrence
6. Harmony Blues
7. Fussy Mabel
8. Ponchatrain
9. Oil Well
10. Load Of Coal (Load Of Cole)
11. Crazy Chords
12. Primrose Stomp
13. Low Gravy
14. Strokin' Away
15. Blue Blood Blues
16. Mushmouth Shuffle
17. Gambling Jack
18. Fickle Day Creep

Tracks:

1. The Chant
2. Sidewalk Blues
3. Dead Man Blues
4. Someday Sweetheart
5. Grandpa's Spells
6. Original Jelly Roll Blues
7. Cannonball Blues
8. Hyena Stomp
9. Billy Goat Stomp
10. Wild Man Blues
11. Jungle Blues
12. Beale Street Blues
13. The Pearls
14. Wolverine Blues
15. Georgia Swing
16. Kansas City Stomps
17. Shoe Shiner's Drag
18. Boogaboo
19. Shreveport
20. Mournful Serenade

Tracks:

1. Shreveport
2. Seattle Hunch
3. Freakish
4. Burnin' The Iceberg
5. Courthouse Bump
6. Pretty Lil
7. Sweet Aneta Mine
8. New Orleans Bump (Monrovia)
9. Tank Town Bump
10. Sweet Peter
11. Jersey Joe
12. Mississippi Mildred
13. Each Day
14. Oil Well
15. Load Of Cole (Load Of Coal)
16. Crazy Chords
17. Primrose Stomp
18. Strokin' Away
19. Blue Blood Blues
20. Gambling Jack

Product Description

Disc: 1
1. Black Bottom Stomp
2. Smoke-House Blues (Beale Street Blues)
3. Chant
4. Sidewalk Blues
5. Dead Man Blues
6. Steamboat Stomp
7. Someday Sweetheart
8. Grandpa's Spells
9. Original Jelly-Roll Blues
10. Doctor Jazz
11. Cannon Ball Blues
12. Hyena Stomp
13. Billy Goat Stomp
14. Wild Man Blues
15. Jungle Blues
16. Beale Street Blues
17. Pearls
18. Wolverine Blues
19. Mr. Jelly Lord

Format: CD

Amazon.com

In both sound quality and price, England's JSP Records continues to put the American major labels to shame with their prewar jazz collections. Following superb multidisc releases of seminal recordings by Louis Armstrong and Django Reinhardt, JSP now offers this Jelly Roll Morton compendium, which includes all his Victor recordings from 1926 to 1930. Thanks to the work of remastering guru John R.T. Davies and a sinfully reasonable price, this five-disc collection far surpasses any U.S. release. The music is exuberant and evocative throughout, as Morton's substantial composing and arranging talents come into clear focus. He was able to maintain the joyous ensemble spirit of New Orleans jazz while continuing the music's evolution toward swing's sophistication. Focusing on Morton's Chicago prime, volume 1 is full of highlights, not just of this set, but of early jazz as a whole. Especially noteworthy is the trio date with the Dodds brothers, from June 1927, that yielded "The Pearls," "Wolverine Blues," and "Mr. Jelly Lord."

Volume 2 follows Morton to New York and features a few forceful piano solos, a strong session with trumpeter Red Allen and unsung clarinet player Albert Nicholas, plus a standout trio date with clarinetist Barney Bigard and drummer Zutty Singleton. Volume 3 is not as consistently brilliant, but offers some gems as well, including cuts with Nicholas and trumpeter Ward Pinkett on board from July 1930. The final two discs contain mostly alternative takes, but unfortunately, the masters of Morton's terrific New York session debut are for some reason buried at the end of disc four's alternates. It is, however, a tiny caveat considering the overall worth of this indispensable box. --Marc Greilsamer

Customer Reviews:

outstanding..........2007-02-14

A better buy simply does not exist. Well remasted and probably the best time frame of Jelly Roll's career.

Gems from the 1920s.......2006-12-28

These sides are treasures from the 1920s. Just as JSP's "Louis Armstrong and the Hot Five and Seven", they have been miticulously restored to their former glory. There is very little distortion. What a marvel of modern technology. Get these gems before they go out of print!

Excellent And Superior Set: Best By Far!.......2006-12-23

This is a bargain, both the price and the sound quality of this Jelly Roll Morton set. While I do have a few of Jelly Roll Morton's CDs, this one is just terrific. The remastering of this set is just simply put the best that I have ever heard. As far as I know, the complete recordings, both original and alternate takes are complete. One of the viewers mentioned that he only likes 1920s sound, and this does not measure up. I also am a 1920s person, and I believe it more than measure up. It's great and fun music. If you are a jazz fan, or like the music of early America [especially that sweet jazz sound] then I would highly recommend this CD for your collection. With all of Jelly Roll Morton's sessions from 1926-1930, remastered with an incredible sound, then look no futher than this CD collection.

Moreover, the price is a great bargain. Also, I was not aware of JSP, and the problems that this particular distributor of music was embroiled in. However, the sound is just great. And I do highly recommend it to all viewers. I am not sure if amazon has a listening sample [I am pretty sure they do] but if they do, I would highly recommend you listening to these great sounds. Of course nothing sounds as good as it would on your stero, however, if you have never listened to Jelly Roll Morton, then I would recommend you take a few minutes out of your time and listen to the listening sampling's that amazon offers its viewers. [If it is there]. And if not, listen to some of the other Jelly Roll Morton CD samples that I do know are listed. Jelly Roll Morton's place in the pantheon of jazz is paramount to anyone who wants to build a jazz collection. And I recommend that you start with these magnificent recordings. Highly recommended.

Great Set -- unfortunate that it's JSP.......2005-09-15

With lawsuits flying about in Europe and John Steadman being sued for allegedly stealing Bear's Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers box sets, it is slightly troubling to acknowledge that this Jelly Roll Morton set is on his pirate label. The liner notes are "ehh -- okay." The layout is a little confusing, with alternate takes appearing on opposite discs, rather than in chronological order, but that's a minor issue.

Otherwise, the sound quality is superb, another smashing John R. T. Davies production! The impact of Morton's body of work is incalculable --- what a vital set for any jazz collection!

Technically great but leaves this twenties fan cold.......2005-05-30

I love twenties and thirties music and have a large collection of it. While I know that Jelly Roll is very important to the history of jazz, there is very little of his music that I enjoy. I recognize the technical virtuosity and the improvisational inventiveness. I prefer my twenties jazz sweetened up with the melody prominent, not simply a starting point for improvisation and jamming. Much of this type of Jazz wears on me the way those twenty minute guitar or bass or drum solos from the late sixties wore on me. Yes, I can hear that you can do incredible things with your instrument. Fine. You have my admiration, but not my love. This album is not going to be played every month (or year) the way my Six Jumping Jacks albums are played. Sure, Morton and his bands are the better musicians but the SJJ's have my love the way that The Kingsmen's version of "Louie, Louie," is my favorite version of that song. I'm glad I have this but it won't get played much.

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