Jelly Roll Morton: Doctor Jazz

Description

The Creole genius Jelly Roll Morton (1890-1941) claimed to have invented j azz – and that wasn’t far from the truth! The virtuoso pianist and bandleader was indeed a pivotal figure right there at the start and is recognized as the first genuine jazz composer and one of the form’s most brilliant innovators. His written arrangements demonstrated that the i mprovisatory spirit of jazz could be harnessed in new, exciting ways. Retrospective’s Doctor Jazz offers a unique double-CD survey of his very f inest work, from his first session in 1923 (Big Fat Ham) to his last band date in 1940 (Dirty, Dirty, Dirty). There are no fewer than 24 tracks with his Red Hot Peppers, hailed as “a triumphant fusion of composition and i mprovisation” (Gunther Schuller) perhaps the first truly great jazz pianist, and six solo performances are featured, including Freakish, King Porter Stomp and the poignant Mamie’s Blues, one of seven distinctive Jelly Roll vocals. No jazz collection can be complete without these timeless classics from “Doctor Jazz” – “He’s got what I need, I’ll say he has”.