I recently obtained a very interesting 88-note piano roll.  The label
is red and gold on white with a photo of a young Black man in suit and
tie playing a grand piano.  The label title reads "Jazz Classics".

Then typed on the label is the number 184.  Under that is typed,
"1. Hot Stuff Rag" and under that is "2. Snow Deer Rag".  Along the
sides is written in red ink "Limited Edition".  Along the bottom of
the label, also in red ink is, "Produced by Richard L. Riley".

The first song plays through twice.  Then there is a series of hand
written x's across the roll and then the second tune.  There is no
tempo number and nothing written on the roll at all.  It is a _very_
nice roll.

Can anyone out there tell me anything about this roll or others like
it?  Who is the young pianist pictured on the label?  Who is or was
Richard L. Riley?

Vincent Morgan, New York City

 [ The pianist pictured is Jelly Roll Morton.  From 1970 to 1980 about
 [ about 450 "Jazz Classics" titles were produced by Richard L. Riley
 [ of California.  His catalog, "Hot Recut Piano-Rollography", says
 [ that JC-184 contains "Hot Stuff Rag", composer and artist unknown,
 [ copied from Cremona "A" roll No. 219, tune 5.  The second tune is
 [ "Snow Deer Rag", composer and artist unknown, from Cremona "A" roll
 [ no. 2222, tune no. 9.
 [
 [ Mr. Riley demonstrated his Disklavier recording piano at the
 [ AMICA 2000 convention in Sacramento, Calif.  As Pianomania Music
 [ Publishing he offers audio CDs of ragtime and blues and jazz
 [ performances; see the "Select Audio" section at
 [ http://mmd.foxtail.com/cgi-bin/sources.pl
 [
 [ -- Robbie