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Pianist, bandleader, composer, arranger and occasional singer Ferdinand Joseph ‘Jelly Roll’ Morton was one of the most important and influential personalities in the entire history of jazz. Born in New Orleans of Creole descent in 1890, he was one of the earliest jazz innovators and pioneers, to the extent that he actually said that he invented the genre, although his accomplishments and influence were such that he did not need to make such exaggerated claims. Starting as a ragtime pianist, his 1915 tune “Jelly Roll Blues” was one of the first published jazz compositions. His career output of recordings was so prolific that we have chosen to release them as two 3-CD sets. This 72-track Vol. 2 collection comprises releases during these years on the Victor, Bluebird and General labels, including solo performances, and recordings with various line-ups as Jelly Roll Morton & His Red Hot Peppers, The Jelly Roll Morton Trio, Jelly Roll Morton’s New Orleans Jazzmen, Jelly Roll Morton's Seven and The Morton Six/Seven. Members of his ensembles during this era include Henry ‘Red’ Allen, J.C. Higginbotham, Pops Foster, Paul Barbarin, Sonny Greer, Barney Bigard, Zutty Singleton, Ward Pinkett, Wilbur De Paris, Cozy Cole, Bubber Miley and Sidney Bechet. Released at the same time is “A Career Anthology Vol. 1 1923-28” (ACTRCD9155). They both offer a comprehensive overview of his work during these eras, and are a fine showcase for his unique talents.

CD 1

1. BURNIN' THE ICEBERG (WEARY BLUES) Jelly Roll Morton & His Red Hot Peppers (Victor 38075) 1929
2. TANK TOWN BUMP Jelly Roll Morton & His Red Hot Peppers (Victor 38075) 1929
3. PRETTY LIL Jelly Roll Morton & His Orch. (Victor 38078) 1929
4. NEW ORLEANS BUMP Jelly Roll Morton & His Orch. (Victor 38078) 1929
5. COURTHOUSE BUMP Jelly Roll Morton & His Orch. (Victor 38093) 1929
6. SWEET ANITA MINE Jelly Roll Morton & His Orch. (Victor 38093) 1929
7. TURTLE TWIST Jelly Roll Morton Trio (Victor 38108) 1929
8. SMILIN' THE BLUES AWAY Jelly Roll Morton Trio (Victor 38108) 1929
9. TRY ME OUT Jelly Roll Morton & His Orch. (Victor 38113) 1929
10. DOWN MY WAY Jelly Roll Morton & His Orch. (Victor 38113) 1929
11. FUSSY MABEL Jelly Roll Morton And His Red Hot Peppers (Victor 38125) 1930
12. PONTCHARTRAIN BLUES Jelly Roll Morton And His Red Hot Peppers (Victor 38125) 1930
13. LITTLE LAWRENCE Jelly Roll Morton & His Red Hot Peppers (Victor 38135) 1930
14. HARMONY BLUES Jelly Roll Morton & His Red Hot Peppers (Victor 38135) 1930
15. SEATTLE HUNCH Jelly Roll Morton  (Victor 38527) 1930
16. FREAKISH Jelly Roll Morton (Victor 38527) 1930
17. MY LITTLE DIXIE HOME Jelly Roll Morton Trio (Victor 38601) 1930
18. THAT'S LIKE IT OUGHT TO BE Jelly Roll Morton Peppers (Victor 38601) 1930
19. PEP Jelly Roll Morton (Victor 38627) 1930
20. FAT FRANCES Jelly Roll Morton (Victor 38627) 1930
21. BLUE BLOOD BLUES Jelly Roll Morton & His Red Hot Peppers (Victor 22681) 1930
22. MUSHMOUTH SHUFFLE Jelly Roll Morton & His Red Hot Peppers (Victor 23004) 1930
23. I'M LOOKING FOR A LITTLE BLUEBIRD Jelly Roll Morton & His Red Hot Peppers (Victor 23004) 1930

CD 2

1. FICKLE FAY CREEP Jelly Roll Morton & His Red Hot Peppers (Victor 23019) 1930
2. THAT'LL NEVER DO Jelly Roll Morton & His Red Hot Peppers (Victor 23019) 1930
3. CRAZY CHORDS Jelly Roll Morton & His Red Hot Peppers (Victor 23307) 1930
4. GAMBLING JACK Jelly Roll Morton & His Red Hot Peppers (Victor 23307) 1930
5. OIL WELL Jelly Roll Morton & His Red Hot Peppers (Victor 23321) 1930
6. IF SOMEONE WOULD ONLY LOVE ME Jelly Roll Morton & His Red Hot Peppers (Victor 23321) 1930
7. MINT JULEP Jelly Roll Morton & His Red Hot Peppers (Victor 23334) 1930
8. LOW GRAVY Jelly Roll Morton & His Red Hot Peppers (Victor 23334) 1930
9. STROKING AWAY Jelly Roll Morton & His Red Hot Peppers (Victor 23351) 1930
10. SING A LITTLE SONG EACH DAY Jelly Roll Morton & His Red Hot Peppers (Victor 23351) 1930
11. JERSEY JOE Jelly Roll Morton & His Red Hot Peppers (Victor 23402) 1930
12. SWEET PETER Jelly Roll Morton & His Red Hot Peppers (Victor 23402) 1930
13. MISSISSIPPI MILDRED Jelly Roll Morton & His Red Hot Peppers (Victor 23424) 1930
14. PRIMROSE STOMP Jelly Roll Morton & His Red Hot Peppers (Victor 23424) 1930
15. LOAD OF COAL Jelly Roll Morton & His Red Hot Peppers (Victor 23429) 1930
16. AFTER YOU'VE GONE  Jelly Roll Morton ( ) 1938
17. TREES Jelly Roll Morton ( ) 1938
18. HONKY TONK MUSIC Jelly Roll Morton (Meritt 4) 1938
19. FINGERBUSTER Jelly Roll Morton (Jazz Man 12) 1938
20. CREEPY FEELING Jelly Roll Morton (Jazz Man 12) 1938
21. OH, DIDN'T HE RAMBLE Jelly Roll Morton Jazzmen (Bluebird 10429) 1939
22. WININ' BOY BLUES Jelly Roll Morton Jazzmen (Bluebird 10429) 1939
23. HIGH SOCIETY Jelly Roll Morton Jazzmen (Bluebird 10434) 1939
24. I THOUGHT I HEARD BUDDY BOLDEN SAY Jelly Roll Morton Jazzmen (Bluebird 10434) 1939

CD 3

1. WEST END BLUES Jelly Roll Morton Jazzmen (Bluebird 10442) 1939
2. CLIMAX RAG Jelly Roll Morton Jazzmen (Bluebird 10442) 1939
3. BALLIN' THE JACK Jelly Roll Morton Jazzmen (Bluebird 10450) 1939
4. DON'T YOU LEAVE ME HERE Jelly Roll Morton Jazzmen (Bluebird 10450) 1939
5. ORIGINAL RAG Jelly Roll Morton (General 4001) 1940
6. MAMIE'S BLUES Jelly Roll Morton (General 4001) 1940
7. THE NAKED DANCE Jelly Roll Morton (General 4002) 1940
8. MICHIGAN WATER BLUES Jelly Roll Morton (General 4002) 1940
9. THE CRAVE Jelly Roll Morton (General 4003) 1940
10. BUDDY BOLDEN'S BLUES Jelly Roll Morton (General 4003) 1940
11. MISTER JOE Jelly Roll Morton (General 4004) 1940
12. WININ' BOY BLUES Jelly Roll Morton (General 4004) 1940
13. KING PORTER STOMP Jelly Roll Morton (General 4005) 1940
14. DON'T YOU LEAVE ME HERE Jelly Roll Morton (General 4005) 1940
15. SWEET SUBSTITUTE Jelly Roll Morton's Seven (General 1703) 1940
16. PANAMA Jelly Roll Morton's Seven (General 1703) 1940
17. GOOD OLD NEW YORK Jelly Roll Morton's Seven (General 1704) 1940
18. BIG LIP BLUES Jelly Roll Morton's Seven (General 1704) 1940
19. GET THE BUCKET The Morton Six (General 1706) 1940
20. IF YOU KNEW The Morton Six (General 1707) 1940
21. SHAKE IT The Morton Six (General 1707) 1940
22. DIRTY, DIRTY, DIRTY The Morton Seven (General 1710) 1940
23. SWINGING THE ELKS The Morton Seven (General 1710) 1940
24. MAMA'S GOT A BABY The Morton Seven (General 1711) 1940
25. MY HOME IS IN A SOUTHERN TOWN The Morton Seven (General 1711) 1940