Jelly Roll Morton: Deep Creek

Track

Deep Creek

Artist

Jelly Roll Morton (piano)

CD

The Jelly Roll Morton Centennial --- His Complete Victor Recordings (RCA 078635236125)

Buy Track

Musicians:

Jelly Roll Morton (piano), Russell Procope (clarinet, alto sax),

Edward Anderson, Edwin Swayze (trumpets); William G. Kato (trombone); Paul Barnes (soprano sax); Joe Garland (tenor sax); Lee Blair (guitar); William Moore (brass bass); Manzie Johnson (drums)

.

Recorded: New York City, December 6, 1928

Albumcoverjrmortoncent

Rating: 98/100 (learn more)

Once he was in New York, Morton’s recording ensembles grew in size. Single instruments gave way to sections. “Deep Creek” was not attributed to the Red Hot Peppers, but to “Jelly-Roll Morton and his Orchestra.” This piece might not be a consensus pick for inclusion in a list of Morton recordings pared to a dozen, but it’s a blues so unhurried and inspired in its use of space that it leaves one mesmerized and stunned by record’s end. It’s unusual for Morton to commit so much of a performance to individual solos, but Morton uses the resources of the ensemble to provide a deep and rich organ-like background that persists until his final floating chord.

Reviewer: Rob Bamberger

If you liked this track, also check out

Jelly Roll Morton: Sidewalk Blues
Jelly Roll Morton: Dead Man Blues
Jelly Roll Morton: Doctor Jazz

Related Articles

The Dozens: Twelve Essential Jelly Roll Morton Tracks by Rob Bamberger
Jelly Roll Morton by David Tenenholtz
A History of New Orleans Music in 100 Tracks edited by Ted Gioia



Tags:

Comments are closed.