Description: (Pianist, Bandleader, Composer, Conductor, Jazz musician)
Jelly Roll Morton was an influential American ragtime and jazz pianist, bandleader, and composer of Louisiana Creole descent. He was known for his pioneering work as jazz's first arranger, demonstrating that improvisational music could be notated without losing its essence. Morton's compositions, such as "Jelly Roll Blues," "King Porter Stomp," "Wolverine Blues," and "Black Bottom Stomp," made significant contributions to the jazz genre. Despite controversies surrounding his claim of inventing jazz, Morton's innovative contributions and musical legacy are highly regarded in the industry.