Hour Three of this week’s Blues Before Sunrise presents one of the most fascinating recordings in all of American music history: the legendary 1938 Library of Congress sessions featuring Jelly Roll Morton in conversation with folklorist Alan Lomax. More than simply a collection of songs, these recordings offer a rare opportunity to hear one of jazz’s earliest stars discuss the origins of the music, demonstrate his piano techniques, and share stories from a lifetime spent at the center of New Orleans musical culture.
By 1938, Morton’s commercial success had faded, but his confidence certainly had not. Throughout the sessions, he presents himself as a key architect of jazz, explaining how he helped shape the music during its earliest years. Morton’s recollections are colorful, opinionated, and often humorous. Whether discussing the rough-and-tumble nightlife of New Orleans, the musicians he encountered, or the development of his own compositions, he speaks with the authority of someone who witnessed history firsthand.
The Library of Congress recordings were conducted by Alan Lomax during a series of informal sessions held in Washington, D.C. Lomax recognized that Morton’s memories represented a priceless link to the earliest days of jazz and encouraged him to tell stories while illustrating them at the piano. The result was a remarkable blend of oral history and live performance unlike anything else preserved from the era.
Listeners hear Morton discuss the influences that shaped New Orleans music, including ragtime, blues, marches, opera, and Caribbean rhythms. He demonstrates musical ideas at the keyboard, often pausing to explain how particular styles evolved or how certain compositions came into being. His famous concept of the “Spanish tinge,” which he believed was essential to authentic jazz, appears prominently throughout the discussions.
What makes these recordings so compelling is Morton’s larger-than-life personality. He is never shy about reminding listeners of his accomplishments and often places himself squarely at the center of jazz history. Yet beneath the bravado lies an extraordinary musician whose technical skill, compositional brilliance, and historical knowledge remain undeniable.
The sessions also provide valuable insight into a musical world that was rapidly disappearing by the late 1930s. Through Morton’s stories, listeners encounter the dance halls, sporting houses, riverboats, and street parades that helped shape early jazz. Many of the musicians and traditions he describes would otherwise have been lost to history.
For generations of jazz scholars, musicians, and fans, the Jelly Roll Morton Library of Congress recordings have remained essential listening. They preserve not only Morton’s music but also his voice, memories, and unique perspective on the birth of jazz itself. Few recordings offer such a direct connection to the formative years of America’s most influential musical art form.
Hour Three stands apart as both entertainment and historical document. It is a chance to spend time with one of jazz’s founding figures as he tells his story in his own words, complete with piano demonstrations, sharp opinions, and unforgettable anecdotes. For anyone interested in the origins of jazz, these recordings remain among the most important ever made.
Playlist – Hour Three
Jelly Roll Morton Library of Congress Recordings
Selections from the Alan Lomax Sessions (1938)
Featuring:
- Jelly Roll Morton – piano, vocals, and commentary
- Recorded for the Library of Congress by Alan Lomax
- Discussions of early New Orleans jazz
- Demonstrations of classic Morton compositions
- Stories about the development of jazz and blues
- Historical recollections from the early twentieth century