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Oh! Mr Jelly! The Life, Times and Music of Jelly Roll Morton, Originator of Jazz
Description
Ferdinand “Jelly Roll” Morton was a piano player, entertainer, composer and band leader who claimed to be the “Originator of Jazz”. An outrageous claim! ….Or was it? That’s the question we bear in mind as we explore Morton’s role in 1920’s New Orleans, 1920s Chicago and 1930s New York. We’ll discuss how he came the first to write down jazz music, made exquisite recordings with his Red Hot Peppers, and his struggles for fame and fortune after the great depression.
Morton was a marvellous, innovative pianist and Mike will illustrate his styles at the grand piano.
This course will appeal to those who enjoy music, history and characterful lives. No knowledge of jazz is assumed, but nevertheless jazz enthusiasts will enjoy new insights into one of the genre’s most colourful and misunderstood characters.
Tutor information
Mike Denham is a fine solo pianist, with a tasteful and exciting repertoire of jazz from the early years of the 20th century. He plays classic Joplin ragtime, the stomps of Jelly Roll Morton and Fats Waller, and popular songs by George Gershwin and Irving Berlin, as well as blues and boogie-woogie. His concerts are seasoned with entertaining stories about these musicians and the colourful lives they led.
In a parallel career as a chemical engineer Mike led workshops on many different subjects – experience that has come in handy delivering successful courses at Dillington in recent years!
Your questions answered
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