Search - Jelly Roll Morton :: Pearls

Historically important

dcjazzfan | Washington DC | 04/14/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The piano solos on this CD are historically and musically important, recorded for the Library of Congress late in Morton's career. The piano solos on tracks 8-18 are excellent, and the half-hour blues "The Murder Ballad" is--interesting. However, be warned--the lyrics to "The Murder Ballad" are crude and possibly obscene. I am rating this as highly as I am because of the quality of the later material."

Morton Library Of Congress Recordings

M. Salvador | Austin, Tx | 09/20/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"These recordings allowed for what record companies at the time would not allow. Which was to have the songs the way they were actually played in the juke joints and night clubs wherever mr. jelly roll found himself. The obscene lyrics the previous reviewer speaks so lowly of are in no part offensive unless you have ears that should have never gotten this far, for if you let that detract you from the music i have nothing but sympathy for you since you can't sit back, listen and HEAR the music as it was actually played like then."