Jelly Roll Morton - New Orleans Joys : The Earliest Recordings, 1923 – 1926 Jelly Roll Morton
Double CD with 80 page booklet and hardshell outercase.
New Orleans Joys : The Earliest Recordings, 1923-1926 chronicles the definitive early work of pianist, composer and raconteur Jelly Roll Morton, who created masterpieces born from the cultural melting pot of 1900s New Orleans; the primitive blues of prostitutes, hymns to God from its churches, joyous anthems of the city’s brass bands, the lessons from ragtime “professors” and the elegance of the opera. He was the first composer of the music that would be called jazz, and elements of his music are still influential today.
All 53 tracks were meticulously transferred and restored from the super rare original 78rpm records, resulting in the best sound available to date for these recordings – by far - with more depth, clarity and presence than ever before achieved. Morton's life and music are illuminated through exhaustively researched essays by Grammy-winner Ricky Riccardi, Andrew Oliver, and co-producers Joe Lauro and Russell Shor. A trove of rare photos and ephemera is assembled in a lavish 80 page booklet. Mastered by Grammy nominated engineer, Jessica Thompson. Designed by Grammy nominated art director, Barbara Bersche. Transfers and restoration by Mike Kieffer, Dustin Wittmann, Mark Beresford, Richard Nevins.
“The spark for this project started with Tompkins Square’s book/CD, Treasures Untold : A Modern 78 RPM Reader , released in April 2025. (Sold out ; still available as a kindle ebook). I was listening to a lot of Jelly Roll on 78. It became apparent that JRM’s pre-Victor output had never been properly anthologized, and what was available didn’t sound especially good. Also, there hadn’t been any JRM on vinyl LP in decades. I floated the idea of a box set to Treasures Untold essayist, 78 collector and filmmaker, Joe Lauro. Joe is not only an authority on JRM, he also owns or has access to all the original 78 rpm records and ephemera – even an original JRM autograph, which graces the spine of the set. Joe recruited fellow JRM sage, Russell Shor, and rounded out the team with a panel of expert notes writers and engineers.
Through meticulous research and remastering, Tompkins Square presents this set in hopes of broadening an understanding of the jazz innovator’s true genius. The goal was to present JRM as a three- dimensional figure, as an artist and as a man. In a way, his legacy has been obscured by cartoonish caricatures and phantom tales. Some of the tales are still wild, but this set re-contextualises his musical impact, bringing the listener closer to this classic early repertoire than ever before.
The deluxe 2CD set with an 80-page booklet is designed by Grammy-nominated art director Barbara Bersche, who also designed Alan Lomax in Haiti 1926-1937 Recordings for the Library of Congress; The Harry Smith B-Sides; Treasures Untold: A Modern 78 RPM Reader book/CD; among many others. Morton is presented in bursting technicolour, ripe for a new generation of fans, bringing this giant of 20th-century music firmly into the now.” Josh Rosenthal (Tompkins Square)
Track List
CD1
1. The Pearls - Jelly Roll Morton (Vocalion 1020)
2. Sweetheart O' Mine - Jelly Roll Morton (Vocalion 1019)
3. Fat Meat and Greens - Jelly Roll Morton (Vocalion 1019)
4. King Porter Stomp - Jelly Roll Morton (Vocalion 1020)
5. Georgia Grind - Edmonia Henderson (Vocalion 1043)
6. Dead Man Blues - Edmonia Henderson (Vocalion 1043)
7. King Porter - Cornet Solo King Oliver, Piano Accompaniment Jelly Roll Morton (Autograph 617)
8. Tom Cat - Cornet Solo King Oliver, Piano Accompaniment Jelly Roll Morton (Autograph 617)
9. Wolverine Blues - Clarinet Solo Voltaire de Faut, Piano Accompaniment Jelly Roll Morton (Autograph 623)
10. My Gal - Jelly Roll Morton Jazz Trio (Autograph 623)
11. Tia Juana (Tee Wana) - Ferd (Jelly Roll) Morton (Gennett 5632, 3043, Silvertone 4028)
12. Shreveport Stomps - Ferd (Jelly Roll) Morton (Gennett 5590)
13. Mamanita - Ferd (Jelly Roll) Morton (Gennett 5632, 3043, Silvertone 4028)
14. Jelly Roll Blues - Ferd (Jelly Roll) Morton (Gennett 5552, Silvertone 4038)
15. Big Foot Ham - Ferd (Jelly Roll) Morton (Gennett 5552, Silvertone 4038)
16. Bucktown Blues - Ferd (Jelly Roll) Morton (Gennett 5516, Silvertone 4040)
17. Tom Cat - Ferd (Jelly Roll) Morton (Gennett 5516, Silvertone 4040)
18. Stratford Hunch - Ferd (Jelly Roll) Morton (Gennett 5590, Silvertone 4036)
19. Perfect Rag - Ferd (Jelly Roll) Morton (Gennett 5486, Silvertone 4031)
20. Frog-I-More Rag - Jelly Roll Morton (Steiner-Davis 103, Paramount 14032)
21. London Blues - Ferd (Jelly Roll) Morton (Rialto, Unnumbered)
22. Thirty Fifth St Blues - Jelly Roll Morton (Paramount 12216)
23. Mamanita - Jelly Roll Morton (Paramount 12216)
24. Grandpa's Spells (A Stomp) - Ferd (Jelly Roll) Morton (Gennett 5218)
25. Kansas City Stomp - Ferd (Jelly Roll) Morton (Gennett 5218)
26. Wolverine Blues (Joys) - Ferd (Jelly Roll) Morton (Gennett 5289)
CD2
1. The Pearls (A Stomp) - Ferd (Jelly Roll) Morton (Gennett 5323)
2. King Portor (A Stomp) - Ferd (Jelly Roll) Morton (Gennett 5289)
3. New Orleans Blues (Joys) - Ferd (Jelly Roll) Morton (Gennett 5286, Silvertone 4041)
4. New Orleans Blues (Joys) #A - Ferd (Jelly Roll) Morton (Gennett 5286)
5. Soap Suds - St Louis Levee Band (Okeh 8404)
6. Mr. Jelly Lord - Jelly Roll Morton's Incomparables (Gennett 3259)
7. Tiger Rag - Jelly Roll Morton's Kings of Jazz (Autograph 607)
8. Weary Blues - Jelly Roll Morton's Kings of Jazz (Autograph 607)
9. High Society - Jelly Roll Morton's Kings of Jazz (Autograph 606)
10. Fish Tail Blues - Jelly Roll Morton's Kings of Jazz (Autograph 606)
11. London Blues - Jelly Roll Morton's Jazz Band (Okeh 8105)
12. Someday Sweetheart - Jelly Roll Morton's Jazz Band (Okeh 8105)
13. Milenberg Joys #A - New Orleans Rhythm Kings (Gennett 5217, Buddy 8027)
14. Milenberg Joys #C - New Orleans Rhythm Kings (Gennett 5217, 3076)
15. London Blues - New Orleans Rhythm Kings (Gennett 5221)
16. Mr. Jelly Lord #A - New Orleans Rhythm Kings (Gennett 5220)
17. Mr. Jelly Lord #C - New Orleans Rhythm Kings (Gennett 5220)
18. Clarinet Marmalade - New Orleans Rhythm Kings (Gennett 5220, Buddy 8004)
19. Clarinet Marmalade #A - New Orleans Rhythm Kings (Gennett 5220)
20. Sobbin' Blues - New Orleans Rhythm Kings (Gennett 5219, Buddy 8003)
21. Big Fat Ham #1 - Jelly Roll Marton and His Orchestra (Paramount 12050)
22. Big Fat Ham #2 - Jelly Roll Marton and His Orchestra (Paramount 12050)
23. Muddy Water - Jelly Roll Marton and His Orchestra (Paramount 12050, 20251, Puritan 11251, National 12251, Harmograph 834, Famous 3245)
24. Mr. Jelly Lord #1 - Jelly Roll Morton's Steamboat Four (Carnival 11397)
25. Mr. Jelly Lord #2 - Jelly Roll Morton's Steamboat Four (Paramount 20332, Broadway, Mitchell, Puretone 11397, Puritan 11232)
26. Steady Roll - Jelly Roll Morton's Stomps Kings (Paramount 20332, Broadway, Mitchell, Puretone 11397, Puritan 11397, Puritan 11232)
27. Steady Roll #2 - Jelly Roll Morton's Stomps Kings (Carnival 11397, Paramount 20332, Broadway, Mitchell, Puretone 11397, Puritan 11232)