Celebrating the Birthday of Jelly Roll Morton

Ragtime and early jazz pianist and composer Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe, known professionally as Jelly Roll Morton, was born in New Orleans on October 20, 1890 (though some say 1885). He was a pivotal figure in early jazz. He was the first arranger in this genre rooted in improvisation, proving that jazz could retain its essential characteristics and spirit even though notated. 

Morton learned to play piano at age 10, and within a few years he was playing in the red-light district bordellos, where he earned the nickname "Jelly Roll." Blending the styles of ragtime and minstrelsy with dance rhythms, he was at the forefront of a movement that would soon be known as "jazz." His composition "Jelly Roll Blues", published in 1915, was the first published jazz composition.

Jelly Roll Morton passed away on July 10, 1941, in Los Angeles, California. Whether or not Morton invented jazz, as he had claimed, he is regarded as one of its great innovators. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted him in 1998, and he received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005.

Mardigramus - Elevator Music

Mardigramus the soothsayer dispenses pointless wisdom and useless observations every Tuesday. Today’s sooth is called “Elevator Music”. Click on the image to view his visionary video.

Happy Birthday, Wynton Marsalis!

Trumpeter, composer and teacher Wynton Marsalis was born in New Orleans on October 18, 1961, into a family of musical royalty. He is the son of jazz pianist Ellis Marsalis Jr., and brother of saxophonist Branford, trombonist Delfeayo, and drummer Jason. While sitting at a table with trumpeters Al Hirt, Miles Davis, and Clark Terry, his father jokingly suggested that he might as well get Wynton a trumpet, too. Hirt volunteered to give him one, so at the age of six Marsalis received his first trumpet. Since that time, he has been awarded nine Grammy Awards and was the first jazz composition to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music. In addition, Marsalis is the only musician to win a Grammy Award in jazz and classical during the same year. The artistic director of Jazz at Lincoln Center, he also promotes classical and jazz music, often to young audiences. Happy Birthday to one of the all time greats!

Eric Delmar - Given with permission from author

Crescent City Blues and BBQ Festival - Festing In Place, 10/16-18/2020

We can't gather for a live festival this year, but we can still celebrate 15 years of the Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival- virtually!  The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation is bringing you three days of incredible music, food and crafts just as we always have.  We’ll revisit some of the most popular performances from past Blues Fests and we’ll even see some new performances from Walter “Wolfman” Washington and Little Freddie King!   And we’re doing this while raising money for a very worthy cause: the Jazz & Heritage Music Relief Fund – a fund that was created to support the Louisiana music community as we all do our part to bring live music events back!   There's two ways you can watch or listen October 16-18:  Community radio station WWOZ 90.7 FM will broadcast Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival live from Lafayette Square – over the air and in streaming audio at www.wwoz.org.  You can also catch the live stream via our Facebook and Youtube channel! 

Mardigramus - Nothing

Mardigramus the soothsayer dispenses pointless wisdom and useless observations every Tuesday. Today’s sooth is called “Nothing”. Click on the image to view his visionary video.

Happy Birthday, Cyril Neville!

Singer songwriter and percussionist Cyril Neville was born in New Orleans on October 10, 1948, to a family of musical royalty. He was a member of the legendary NOLA funk band The Meters, along with his brother Art Neville, and later became a member of the Neville Brothers band along with his older brothers Aaron, Charles and Art. Neville has collaborated with numerous artists including Bob Dylan, Robbie Robertson, Willie Nelson, and Dr. John. In 2005, Neville joined up with Tab Benoit, Waylon Thibodeaux, Johnny Sansone, Anders Osborne, Monk Boudreaux, George Porter, Jr., Johnny Vidacovich, and Dr. John to form the Voice of the Wetlands Allstars, bringing awareness to the loss of wetlands along the Gulf Coast. In 2010, Neville toured with New Orleans funk band Galactic, and in 2012, he formed blues-rock supergroup Royal Southern Brotherhood along with Devon Allman, Mike Zito, Charlie Wooton, and Yonrico Scott. Whether performing solo or with collaborators, Cyril Neville always leaves his audiences wanting more. Happy birthday, Cyril!

Photo by: Bruce Tuten