Jelly Roll Morton - New Orleans Joys : The Earliest Recordings, 1923 – 1926 *Pre-Order

Release Date Friday 6th November 2026
All pre-orders will be dispatched/made ready for collection on that day.

New Orleans Joys : The Earliest Recordings, 1923-1926 chronicles the definitive early work of pianist, composer and raconteur Jelly Roll Morton, who created masterpieces born from the cultural melting pot of 1900s New Orleans; the primitive blues of prostitutes, hymns to God from its churches, joyous anthems of the city’s brass bands, the lessons from ragtime “professors” and the elegance of the opera. He was the first composer of the music that would be called jazz, and elements of his music are still influential today.

All 53 tracks were meticulously transferred and restored from the super rare original 78rpm records, resulting in the best sound available to date for these recordings – by far - with more depth, clarity and presence than ever before achieved. Morton's life and music are illuminated through exhaustively researched essays by Grammy-winner Ricky Riccardi, Andrew Oliver, and co-producers Joe Lauro and Russell Shor. A trove of rare photos and ephemera is assembled in a lavish 80 page booklet. Mastered by Grammy nominated engineer, Jessica Thompson. Designed by Grammy nominated art director, Barbara Bersche. Transfers and restoration by Mike Kieffer, Dustin Wittmann, Mark Beresford, Richard Nevins. “The spark for this project started with Tompkins Square’s book/CD, Treasures Untold : A Modern 78 RPM Reader , released in April 2025. (Sold out ; still available as a kindle ebook). I was listening to a lot of Jelly Roll on 78. It became apparent that JRM’s pre-Victor output had never been properly anthologized, and what was available didn’t sound especially good. Also, there hadn’t been any JRM on vinyl LP in decades. I floated the idea of a box set to Treasures Untold essayist, 78 collector and filmmaker, Joe Lauro. Joe is not only an authority on JRM, he also owns or has access to all the original 78 rpm records and ephemera – even an original JRM autograph, which graces the spine of the set. Joe recruited fellow JRM sage, Russell Shor, and rounded out the team with a panel of expert notes writers and engineers. Through meticulous research and remastering, Tompkins Square presents this set in hopes of broadening an understanding of the jazz innovator’s true genius. The goal was to present JRM as a three- dimensional figure, as an artist and as a man. In a way, his legacy has been obscured by cartoonish caricatures and phantom tales. Some of the tales are still wild, but this set re-contextualizes his musical impact, bringing the listener closer to this classic early repertoire than ever before.The deluxe 2CD set with 80 page booklet is designed by Grammy-nominated art director, Barbara Bersche, who also designed Alan Lomax in Haiti 1926-1937 Recordings for the Library of Congress ; The Harry Smith B-Sides ; Treasures Untold : A Modern 78 RPM Reader book/CD ; among many others. Morton is presented in bursting technicolor, ripe for a new generation of fans, bringing this giant of 20th century music firmly into the now.” Josh Rosenthal (Tompkins Square)

Tracklisting:

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