Jelly Roll Morton - Complete Recorded Work, 1926-1930

This boxed set of 5 CDs has to be "5-star" value. To collect all the numbers individually would, even if possible, be ridiculously expensive as the CDs include every surviving recording made by Jelly Roll Morton over the years 1926-1930. The CDs embrace alternate takes for many of the numbers and so allow listeners to compare different versions and to trace their development.Jelly Roll Morton proclaimed himself to be the "inventor" of jazz and these CDs provide insight to his disciplined approach to recording sessions. Others have claimed to originate jazz, but the qualities demonstrated on these CDs suggest Jelly Roll Morton's self-representation may be correct. He was a great composer and the vast majority of the numbers on the CDs are his own - he was an inventive arranger as indicated by both ensemble playing and solo interjections, and different treatments with alternates on the CDs - and above all, he was clearly an inspirational bandleader as he surrounded himself with many of the best musicians of the day as described in the discographies.The CD insert notes have a reasonable amount of background material, but about the various recordings there are detailed and informative comments. It is fascinating to listen to the numbers and read up the explanatory notes - though there is at least one error (Original Jelly Roll Blues), and some remarks are flagrantly subjective - but relevant.If there is a problem it is that there is just too much, and many collectors and jazz lovers are likely to already have tracks on "compilation" recordings or "best of" selections. Some of the recordings appear elsewhere with other names (example : Johnny Dodds) though most are Jelly Roll Morton with his Red Hot Peppers, or his Orchestra, or various Trios and other offshoots of his main groups. The real value of jazz is not in documentation but in personal experience - just as well as there are 99 tracks to comment on - but too much is hardly a criticism. As well as a "5-star" value this boxed set is a "5-star" collectors item from Jelly Roll Morton's triumphal days of traditional jazz.

What a master of the ivory this guy was. Brill disc.

A wonderful set of recordings of the complete works of Jelly Roll Morton during the relevant years. Very interesting to hear the alternative takes of some very well known tracks. Sound quality excellent.

I have for a long time enjoyed the style of Jelly Roll Morton. This package came as a gift from above. We put it on and we were rocking and realing over our breakfast. Really good booklet with it too. Just like to play the CD's and listen to the beginnings of all that came after this truly enjoyable music.

When you think how old the original recordings are, the re-mastered sound on these discs is astounding. And the music is quite delightful, very often understated but full of character. I'm so glad to have this box-set in my collection.

This was a great gift for my partner who had lost some recordings

I decided to buy this album after purchasing Jelly Roll's piano recordings from 1923-24, what made my decision was the glowing reviews this album had received from others. It's a great collection at a great price, I haven't stopped listening to it since I got it.

As expected - excellent! Great music and unbelievable sound.