Search - Jelly Roll Morton :: Kansas City Stomp

The Original Jelly Roll

12/15/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Wonderful. Jelly Roll's voice is awesome and so is his brillant playing. These are the roots of jazz, he also makes some comments about the songs too. Fairly clear recording, sound is a little scratchy, but very minimal, but it does not detract at all from the performances. Very moving. A must for anyone who is literate in jazz or who wants to be."

Great Jazz Piano

B. D. Tutt | London, UK. | 11/13/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"(...)First, this CD features some of Morton's finest piano performances. The two versions of "Maple Leaf Rag" constitute Morton's demonstration of the transformation of ragtime into jazz, with the second version a magnificently swinging jazz performance. Similarly, Morton shows how "Tiger Rag" was allegedly created from a French quadrille, before delivering a stomping version, complete with tiger imitation. "Panama" is a concise masterclass in Morton's complex piano style, "King Porter Stomp" is given a rather frenetic reading which creates more excitement than the entire Benny Goodman orchestra, whilst for a change of pace the three chorus "Naked Dance" takes us back to the bordellos of Storyville.Second, Morton's under-appreciated skill as a jazz singer is well illustrated here. "Lowdown Blues" is a splendid performance, with piano accompaniment based on his "New Orleans Blues"Third, the sound quality is not brilliant, but is a vast improvement on previous LP issues.Recommended to anyone interrsted in the history of
jazz."

An older relaxed jelly roll.

fluffy, the human being. | forest lake, mn | 02/22/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"recorded in 1938, an older jelly roll morton sings and plays solo piano on a variety of blues, rags, and folk tunes that harken back to the early days of the 20th century. listening to these relaxed, wonderful performances is like evesdropping in on somebody playing at a beer joint back in the days when ragtime and the blues were forces in popular music. mr morton's voice is easy and pleasing, and his piano playing a joy. he may have been up in years when he recorded this stuff but his enthusiasm for music still comes through like that of a young man. i can almost taste the cheap beer and hear the clacking of pool balls as i listen to this stuff. music to transport you into america's past. a real treat."