Jelly Roll Morton: Michigan Water Blues
Track
Michigan Water Blues
Artist
Jelly Roll Morton (piano, vocals)
CD
Last Sessions: The Complete General Recordings (Verve 403)
Recorded: New York, December 18, 1939
Rating: 85/100 (learn more)
Jelly Roll Morton was many things: pianist, composer, bandleader, bartender, bouncer, raconteur and self-proclaimed inventor of jazz. He wasn't, however, a singer. Not that anything so trivial ever deterred Jelly Roll. Here he vocally extols Michigan, where "water tastes like sherry wine," compared to Mississippi water, which "tastes like turpentine." Skepticism is advised when considering early jazzmen's evaluations of water, a substance they imbibed only under duress. Even so, Jelly Roll's world-weary but still cocky voice and minimalist piano playing bring to this blues a serene maturity as cool and refreshing as Great Lakes water. An old master at work.
Reviewer: Alan Kurtz
If you liked this track, also check out
Jelly Roll Morton: Mamie's Blues
Jelly Roll Morton: The Crave
Jelly Roll Morton: Scat Song
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: blues · jazz vocals · new orleans
Comments are closed.