Introduction to Jelly Roll Morton

Though Jelly Roll Morton didn't invent jazz (as he often claimed) he was one of the chief architects of its early sound, and made great strides as an arranger and composer in the age when the genre was just growing up. All of those accomplishments are evident on this superbly selected compilation, as is Morton's fine piano playing, and, most importantly, the beauty of his songs. "King Porter Stomp," "Jelly Roll Blues," and "Black Bottom Stomp," among others, are here--every one of them a stone-cold jazz classic. As the title suggests, this is an ideal way to get introduced to this pivotal figure.