Jelly Roll Morton [JSP]

's five-CD set devoted to contains all of his recordings cut between September 1926 and October 1930. The sound quality is excellent and complete discographical information is provided along with insightful liner notes. Alternate takes are presented on separate discs so as to avoid redundancy. This creates doppelgaengers, as it were, of most of the sessions involving larger ensembles. is heard as a solo pianist and as leader of his trios, , and orchestra. The only shortcoming is the absence of eight titles recorded for 's imprint in 1939 by . Had the producers of this otherwise excellent compilation opted for these classic latter-day instead of obsessing over every single alternate take from the earlier sessions, this would be a serious contender for the "best and most affordable set" award. As it stands, 's hefty anthology is a great way to obtain most of 's major work on CD at relatively little cost. The very best way to study this artist is to start at the beginning of his discography using the and then move forward. After hearing these canonic recordings as presented by , some folks will indeed want to zoom in for close-ups and study every recorded episode in this primal jazzman's life and works. ~ arwulf arwulf