The Bebop Shop : Artistry In Rhythm: Early Jazz, Big Bands & Swing : Jelly Roll Morton
Jelly Roll Morton was not only the first real jazz composer; he was the first jazz musician to make his entire approach to the music compositional. Whether as a piano soloist or as a leader of orchestras over which he had undoubted control, Morton emerged, and will be chiefly honoured, as the creator of total conceived jazz masterpieces. His grandiose claims as an innovator should not be allowed to obscure the fact that he was a virtually self-contained master of invention, the originator of orchestral jazz. (Proper Records) Price: £15.49