Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers · The Red Hot Peppers were Jelly Roll Morton's recording band, active from 1926 to 1930. Morton formed the group in Chicago as a septet or octet for the label Victor. He brought in the best freelance players of the New Orleans style, including cornettist George Mitchell, trombonist Kid Ory, the clarinettists Omer Simeon and Johnny Dodds and the banjo players Johnny St. Cyr and Bud Scott. In 1928 Morton moved to New York, where he continued recording under the same name, now with musicians from his own band and from other orchestras. In 1930 the name disappeared.

Music and breakthrough

The Chicago recordings of 1926 and 1927 are regarded as the best. Black Bottom Stomp, Smoke-House Blues and Doctor Jazz set a standard for small-group jazz that has still hardly been surpassed. That is due to Morton's work as composer and arranger. The pieces are clearly constructed and yet varied, and they strike a balance between ensemble and solo, with each player given room for a solo of his own.

Influence

The records of the Red Hot Peppers also formed an important part of the race records, the record industry for Black audiences in the 1920s and 1930s. They showed how written structure and improvisation can go together, and in doing so gave early jazz an example that later bandleaders followed.

Listening

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