Today, October 20, we
arrive at Ferdinand
Joseph Lamothe's 130th birthday. More famously known as Jelly Roll Morton, he
was one of the kings of 20th-century music and is forever hailed as a true
innovator in the world of modern jazz. He had proficiency with the piano even
before his teenage years and was a local favorite at bars and bordellos that
had a piano for him to play. Born into a time before the phrase "jazz" was
formalized, Morton was instrumental in giving the nascent genre its first
scripted works.
Often remembered for
his confident aura that bordered on vanity at times, he referred to himself more
than once as the sole inventor of jazz itself. Obviously, his claim could not
be entirely true, what with jazz having such a swirl of different people,
emotions, and personalities at its core. That said, his influence is difficult
to understate when remaining truthful, and he remains a legend in his craft to
this day. Many of his songs are iconic in the genre and are symbolic of the
structure and feeling of jazz as a whole, especially the New Orleans subsect. "Jelly Roll
Blues" is one of the seminal works of early jazz, and it even blended in
unexpected spice from tango-style rhythms as a result of Morton's exceedingly
unique musical identity.
By his maturity, he
was the leader of the Red Hot Peppers and a celebrated musician in his own
right. Their musical style was New Orleans-inspired, and their spirited
performances enjoyed a great deal of success. Eventually, though, Morton fell
out of stardom, as his New Orleanian style was, while much-loved, eventually
left behind in the public eye by newer forms of jazz. Though it may not have
been all the rage by the time of his death in 1941, we live now in a time where
all music can be equally appreciated, and fewer genres suffer from being
considered "old-fashioned" than ever. So, we look back fondly on one of the
genre's most iconic envelope-pushers fondly and in admiration of his charisma.
Here's to you, Jelly Roll Morton, and Happy 130th!
