Jelly Roll Morton – “Smoke House Blues” (mp3)
Sassy piano sounds fill the room while listening to one of the first great composer and piano player of Jazz, Jelly Roll Morton. With a charismatic and driven spirit, Jelly Roll Morton worked as a piano player in a whorehouse as a teenager, a pimp, and even a comedian before coming a well known member of his band Red Hot Peppers. In this song “Smokehouse Blues,” you can hear his composing at his best. From the engaging sound of the piano throughout the song to the resonating solos of the other instruments, “Smokehouse Blues” really throws you back into the times of the late 20s.
Scott Joplin – “The Entertainer” (mp3)
Only one of the greatest and most famous piano works of all time, here is Scott Joplin‘s “The Entertainer,” as performed by the American composer himself. More than stand the test of time, this unforgettable theme has become part of the very DNA of popular music, rediscovered by every generation since its conception. From its first run as a piano roll hit, through a chart topping radio resurgence in 1974 (precipitated by a prominent use in the hit Paul Newman / Robert Redford movie The Sting), to its ubiquitous presence on the loudspeakers of ice cream trucks the world over, this piece is synonymous with joy and fun.
Jelly Roll Morton – “Black Bottom Stomp” (play/download)
The great Jelly Roll Morton and his incredible band ladies and gents. “Black Bottom Stomp” is the lead-off cut from the “Birth Of The Hot” CD, which compiles Morton’s Chicago recordings from 1926-27. During Jelly Roll Morton’s prestigious career he played and mentored some of the greatest masters of jazz. Known for producing songs that fit perfectly onto a 78 RMP pressing, his legendary band and recordings live on in the mp3 format. Pick it up, it’s a real treasure.
All right! This is what the doctor ordered. Some great music from the past to remind you of what songwriting used to be.
Charleston 7 – “Nashville Nightingale” mp3
