[Dixielandjazz] New Jelly Roll Book

[Mike Meddings]

I'm glad Jim Beebe has hinted that we approach the Reich and Gaines Chicago
Tribune article with caution. However, the article is a remarkable
document, in that it helped to bring Jelly Roll Morton to the attention of
a much wider audience. It is flawed in many ways, not least by sloppy
research, and there are a number of major errors in the article.

In discussions with the most senior of my Morton research colleagues --
notably Larry Gushee, Roger Richard and Jim Dapogny -- I offer the
following:

The Chicago Tribune reporters, Reich and Gaines have told us that Morton's
death certificate listed "cardiac decomposition" due to "unknown."  This is
ridiculous; whoever heard of a decomposed heart? The correct medical
terminology should be, as correctly inserted on his death certificate,
"cardiac decompensation". Please see the certified copy at:

http://www.doctorjazz.freeserve.co.uk/deathcert.gif

The reporters can be forgiven for this error; they are not the first to
fall into the trap and be caught out with this.

Roy Carew, Morton's partner in the Tempo-Music Publishing Co., did not fair
at all well in the article. We all went ballistic after reading the
defamatory ramblings, which have not been backed up with proper research.
Jim Dapogny, in correspondence with me, went one further by writing, "...
if Jazz deserved a sainthood, then Carew would be first in line..."

Roy Carew was far removed from the typical commercial music publisher; he
did everything he could to help Morton, and he very often gave small sums
of his own money to Morton to allow him to pay his bills.

Finally, another couple of items that are in error in the article: Morton
never recorded "Milenberg Joys" for Victor. The photograph of "Jelly Roll
Morton and his Orchestra" at the Camden Studios in July 1929 is incomplete.
My copy has Rod Rodriguez sitting at the piano next to Morton.

I am sure that all genuine Morton devotees will look forward to reading the
new Reich and Gaines book. Let's wait until we read the contents before
prejudging it and making any harsh criticism.

Musically yours

Mike

mike@monrovia.screaming.net
http://www.doctorjazz.freeserve.co.uk