With today’s show, we bring together all of the disparate elements of our earlier shows. If you’ll recall, each our previous shows (from the early part of the series) focused on general elements of music’s formation, from the death of European tradition, to the births of 1) an American identity, 2) the recording industry, 3) popular music, 4) jazz, and 5) the blues.

All of these elements come together quite nicely in the person of Jelly Roll Morton. Best of all, Jelly Roll himself can tell most of the story, thanks to the foresight of Alan Lomax. In 1938, when most of the world considered Morton old fashioned and lost interest in his style of music, Lomax found him playing under virtually anonymous conditions in a low rent bar near Washington D.C. Remarkably, Lomax was still in peak form, as can be attested by his playing, and his penchant for storytelling is truly fascinating. Sadly, he would pass away soon after the interview, and only then would historians begin to recognize the immense importance of his contributions.

Today, his stature as one of the most innovative musicians of the early jazz years is thoroughly undeniable. Listen, then, as we hear directly from somebody who was there when the music was born and who contributed immeasurably to our identity as an American culture, and don’t forget to come back next week for part ‘7b’.

Here are the tracks featured in today’s show;

Maple Leaf Rag – Jelly Roll Morton

Maple Leaf Rag, St. Louis style vs. New Orleans style – Jelly Roll Morton

Jelly Roll’s Background (Interview)

How Jelly Roll Got His Name (Interview)

Shreveport Stomp – Jelly Roll Morton

The Story of the 1900 New Orleans Riots, part 1 (Interview)

The Story of the 1900 New Orleans Riots, part 2 (Interview)

Wolverine Blues – Jelly Roll Morton

The Great Buddy Bolden, Part 1 (Interview)

The Great Buddy Bolden, Part 2 (Interview)

I Thought I Heard Buddy Bolden Say – Jelly Roll Morton