Jim Hession Performs Jelly Roll Morton's Black Bottom Stomp

[pianomoments]

way too fast. great tehnique but no feeling!

[JO911B]

bravo!!!!

[jazznbear]

Grazie !!!

[Squarerig]

Who cares if played fast,slow or moderately?The music is the thing and the emotions it brings forth!Wonderful Mr Hession has done it again with his invisible twin palying beside him.Wonderful stuff!I love it!

[aljl1011]

I'm pretty certain that Jelly was a Stride Pianist.

[jazznbear]

Jelly was certainly a unique and creative early jazz stylist.His sound combines ragtime,blues,latin influence and elements of classical music.He was a genius but not a stride player.Stride piano features a booming yet swinging bass sound produced by tenths and low single notes in left hand with rhythmic piano figures in rt hand...akin to the diff. between Mozart and Beethoven: two great styles,but different in concept.

[agbjhw]

I'm sure in the piece, the solo he plays is stride.  I have the sheet music for the solo and it is certainly stride.

[cihullo]

this man is great

[thenoseymethod]

i would have loved to have been alive to have seen Jelly Roll play. he was a virtuoso

[Ragtime4]

Great playing.... but the increased speed seems to take away some of the feel of the old recordings! Too many people play rag-time and jazz too fast for me. Thanks for letting me rant! I may never be as good a player as the player in this video!

[jazznbear]

As we speak I am listening to the original recording of Jelly's Red Hot Peppers from 9/15/26 and find the tempo of my rendition, although unintentional, to be identical to the original cut. I do appreciate the outlook of rag/jazz fans that original recordings are classics but in 15 years of working with Eubie Blake I remember his words very well:"Learn the original then play it your own way."

[Ragtime4]

That's right, play it your own way! Music is a great vehicle for personal and cultural expression.

[jazznbear]

As one of the founding members of the Maple Leaf Club(Los Angeles-1967) I have been privy to many heated discussions about how ragtime should be played. My personal opinion is that ragtime should be played WELL whether fast or slow.Rant on, it is okay!

[jazznbear]

Somerset45 has added some great original Morton videos including Morton's band playing Black Bottom Stomp. Great stuff. Thought you might enjoy this site.

[Squarerig]

What did Jelly Roll Morton once say?Jazz should be soft,sweet and plenty rhythm.All the performances by Mr.Hession exemplify this precept.Wonderful music.

[jazznbear]

Thank you! When performing Jelly Roll Morton's music I try to create a blend of his original voicings and arrangements with the same flair of spontaneity that he and his sidemen displayed within the style. Hopefully this mix breathes new life into the music.

[LibraryGeek007]

My favourite Jelly Roll piece!!!!!

[moshelio]

very nice

[thenoseymethod]

well done!

[neilbombd]

Very good performance of a truly brilliant song.

[Laviothan]

brilliant! very talented!

[dznygrl]

Wow is right - that's fantastic.

[irish1209]

wow.