Standard Time, Vol. 6: Mr. Jelly Lord

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Wynton Marsalis's century-closing series of jazz and classical recordings isn't nearly the pulse-quickening excursion one might expect, what with all the fanfare and all the years the vaunted trumpeter has spent in the limelight. That said, his nod to Jelly Roll Morton is probably one of the better Marsalis recordings available. It's got enough rules built in--compositional economy, instrumental variation, etc.--that it disciplines the trumpeter's more ambitious tendencies. In the liner notes, Marsalis describes Morton dually as a jazz intellectual and a streetwise hustler, and anyone familiar with Morton will know the characterization is apt. Marsalis's read of Morton, however, skips the street hustle and instead focuses on cleanly drawn portraits that amount to fine repertory pieces, works akin to chamber music in their ultimate impact. That's not so much of a putdown as it might seem, as African-American composers are so rarely treated the way European and Euro-American composers are. Morton knew this and wrote his way around it, much as Duke Ellington and Charles Mingus did. And Jelly Roll's stomping-good-time melodies are here to show his knowledge of both his audience and his compositional chops. But if you're expecting something innovative or hair-raising in the way of Marsalis rediscovering an untapped Jelly Roll vein, you'll be greeted instead with full-bore, horn-rich charts that swing strongly. And that ain't half bad. --Andrew Bartlett

Tracks:

Red Hot Pepper
New Orleans Bump
King Porter Stomp
The Pearls
Deep Creek
Mamanita
Sidewalk Blues
Jungle Blues
Big Lip Blues
Dead Man Blues
Smokehouse Blues
Billy Goat Stomp
Courthouse Bump
Black Bottom Stomp
Tom Cat Blues

Amazon.com

Wynton Marsalis's century-closing series of jazz and classical recordings isn't nearly the pulse-quickening excursion one might expect, what with all the fanfare and all the years the vaunted trumpeter has spent in the limelight. That said, his nod to Jelly Roll Morton is probably one of the better Marsalis recordings available. It's got enough rules built in--compositional economy, instrumental variation, etc.--that it disciplines the trumpeter's more ambitious tendencies. In the liner notes, Marsalis describes Morton dually as a jazz intellectual and a streetwise hustler, and anyone familiar with Morton will know the characterization is apt. Marsalis's read of Morton, however, skips the street hustle and instead focuses on cleanly drawn portraits that amount to fine repertory pieces, works akin to chamber music in their ultimate impact. That's not so much of a putdown as it might seem, as African-American composers are so rarely treated the way European and Euro-American composers are. Morton knew this and wrote his way around it, much as Duke Ellington and Charles Mingus did. And Jelly Roll's stomping-good-time melodies are here to show his knowledge of both his audience and his compositional chops. But if you're expecting something innovative or hair-raising in the way of Marsalis rediscovering an untapped Jelly Roll vein, you'll be greeted instead with full-bore, horn-rich charts that swing strongly. And that ain't half bad. --Andrew Bartlett

Customer Reviews:

Fabulous Reference level recording.......2007-01-12

I am an audio dealer, manufacturer, and enthusiast and a friend introduced this redbook CD to me. I ended up purchasing 6 or 7 more Wynton Marsalys' Standard Time, Vol. 6: Mr. Jelly Lord CDs. I kept one and sent the others to customers, friends, and industry insiders. The music is exciting and the recording quality is reference level. Depending on one's system, this CD can exhibit a very dynamic, exciting, and very real sense of liveliness. Several others have claimed to use it as one of their reference recordings to demonstrate their system's sonic presentation to customers and associates.

I've since purchased several more of the very talented Wynton Marsalis' CDs and have found nearly equal musical excitement and and engineering in these CDs as well.

One of my favorites and a must have.

Mr. Smushy Lord.......2006-05-17

Since the liner notes insist that all jazz is "modern", you'd think Marsalis & Co. would try to put some fresh spin on Jelly Roll's compositions, or at least capture the nuances of the original sides. But no, this is just corny Dixieland oom-pah mush, the stuff tourists hear at Disney World. To appreciate Mr. Morton you will do much better with his original recordings. As Linus screamed to Lucy: "Great art should not be smushed up!"

UNDERATED IS THE APT WORD--CLASSIC IS ANOTHER.......2005-02-13

I am "knocked-out" and down....floored. This CD will be a classic among classics, and it ".....proves that all jazz is modern"---Stanley Crouch's linernotes

Absolutley wonderful, perfect, and underatted.......2004-12-28

I still can't believe I actually bought something from Wynton Marsalis. I never thought I would purchase something from a "new" jazz artist (I listen to all jazz, mainly Duke Ellington, Sam Rivers, Albert Ayler, Elvin Jones, Charles Mingus), but my love for New Orleans music is great, so I figured I give this a shot. Damm, these guys are all from New Orleans and it sounds like it. These guys play these song PERFECTLY, there is no "nostalgia" or any other negatives other than the ocassional alto sax solos which dont really fit in as well as plunger muted tumped, trombone, soprano, and the huge vibrato of New Orleans clarinet. These songs by Jelly Roll were perfect to start and they are taken with care and joy. They actually capture the feel of the original recordings, like Louis Armstrong's Hot Fives and Sevens. Wynton may be anoying, pretenious, stuck up, ect., But he can play a hell of a trumpet (whatever that means) and his group is killer.

Wynton At His Best.......2004-06-20

I purchased the minidisc version of this album, and I must say that it is simply astounding. I cannot get enough of this album. The performances are simply superb. If you are looking for an execellent traditional jazz album, to add to your collection, this one is highly recommended.

Average customer rating:

Standard Time, Vol. 6: Mr. Jelly Lord
Wynton Marsalis
Manufacturer: Columbia
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

New Orleans Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000G1T3NI
Release Date: 2006-07-31

Tracks:

Red Hot Pepper
New Orleans Bump
King Porter Stomp
Pearls
Deep Creek
Mamanita
Sidewalk Blues
Jungle Blues
Big Lip Blues
Dead Man Blues
Smoke-House Blues
Billy Goat Stomp
Courthouse Bump
Black Bottom Stomp
Tom Cat Blues

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