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MMD > Archives > April 2002 > 2002.04.19 > 05Prev  Next


FS: CD of Jelly Roll Morton Piano Rolls
By Julian Dyer

I would like to announce a new recording of piano rolls of Jelly Roll
Morton music, consisting of the 17 rolls transcribed from 78 rpm disks
by Mike Meddings, plus 5 rolls by Morton himself including two ('The
Pearls' and 'Soap Suds') which receive their disk premiere.  These have
been recorded using a 1912 88-note Pianola pushup on a modern 208 cm
(about 6'9") Seiler grand piano, with myself as pianolist and Mike
Meddings as artistic advisor.

I have loved Morton's music for years, and have been delighted in
recent years by the recutting of all the known original rolls to the
highest standards.  Making the much-talked-of Meddings' rolls available
capped it all.  For jazz piano roll enthusiasts, this truly is a golden
age!  This CD aims to share this wonderful material with a wider
audience, and maybe even encourage a few roll sales as well.  MMD
regulars Karl Ellison, Frank Himpsl and Rob DeLand unhesitatingly gave
permission for us to record these gems.

On the recording we have carefully matched Morton's original tempos,
and tried to capture the spirit of his wonderfully complex and
considered dynamics and accents.  No MIDI trickery, these are 'live'
Pianola performances!  I hope this CD is more sympathetic to the music
than some recordings over the years.

Enough!  For more, see http://www.doctorjazz2.freeserve.co.uk/page13.html
The CD can be ordered from:

 Shellwood Productions,
 St. Leonard's Road,
 Thames Ditton,  Surrey KT7 0RN
 UK
 Phone 020 8873 1280 (+44 20 8873 1280 from overseas, 24h answerphone)
 Email: <shell.wood@ntlworld.com>

The cost is UKP 10.50 (just under US$ 15), airmailed anywhere in
the world.  Credit cards welcome.  Good dealer discounts are available,
please ask!

The Shellwood catalogue (http://www.shellwood.co.uk/) has a nice
selection of syncopated piano records that may be of interest to
MMDers.  The Morton will be listed on it soon.

Julian Dyer


(Message sent Sat 20 Apr 2002, 00:55:48 GMT, from time zone GMT+0100.)

Key Words in Subject:  CD, FS, Jelly, Morton, Piano, Roll, Rolls

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