Care for some Jelly Roll? I certainly do.
Both as pianist and scholar, Morten Gunnar Larsen knows his Jelly Roll Morton, and his knowledge and love show in his playing.
This Morton tribute comes from the 2013 Whitley Bay Classic Jazz Party, and it is an especially rewarding one because it gently and effectively combines a reverent approach to the originals with on-the-spot improvisation. So what you experience is more than a series of scroll Victor 78s played live
Morten was able to assemble a fine band: Josh Duffee, drums; Frans Sjostrom, bass saxophone; Jacob Ullberger, banjo; Lars Frank, clarinet / soprano; Kristoffer Kompen, trombone; Bent Persson, cornet; guest star Aurelie Tropez*, clarinet.
THE SUPERIOR RAG:
MILENBERG JOYS*:
DEAD MAN BLUES*:
WOLVERINE BLUES* (a quartet of Morten, Lars, Aurelie, and Josh):
KANSAS CITY STOMPS:
Another previously unknown Morton composition, a “SLOW STOMP” called CROCODILE CRADLE:
BLACK BOTTOM STOMP:
Morten plays Morton. What could be nicer?
And to make the point I have been making throughout this year: at the 2014 Whitley Bay Classic Jazz Party, starting on Thursday, November 6, sessions like this are the rule, not the exception.
May your happiness increase!
JAZZ LIVES 
Great post, Michael. For those who have not heard this historic Library of Congress, Lomax/Jelly Roll interview that Morten Gunnar Larsen referred to, here it is. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPt0IlmHJhs