How Jelly Roll Morton Invented Jazz

by Jonah Winter, Keith Mallett (Illustrations)

In this unusual and inventive picture book that riffs on the language and rhythms of old New Orleans, noted picture book biographer Jonah Winter ( Dizzy , Frida , You Never Heard of Sandy Koufax? ) turns his focus to one of America's early jazz heroes in this perfectly pitched book about Jelly Roll Morton.

Gorgeously illustrated by fine artist Keith Mallett, a newcomer to picture books, this biography will transport readers young and old to the musical, magical streets of New Orleans at the turn of the 20th century.

A Neal Porter Book

Genres: Picture Books, Music, Biography, Nonfiction, Childrens, Jazz, African American

32 pages, Hardcover

First published June 16, 2015

About the author

Jonah Winter is the celebrated author of many picture book biographies, including Barack, which was a New York Times bestseller. His books include Here Comes the Garbage Barge, Sonia Sotomayor, Roberto Clemente, and more. A poet and a painter, Mr. Winter divides his time between Santa Fe and a small town in Pennsylvania.

Reviews

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I plucked this book off a shelf at the New Orleans Jazz Market this evening after listening to Kermit Ruffin's happy-hour set there; and it was the perfect coda. (I'd also started a children's book about Trombone Shorty, but didn't get to finish it.) What a set -- Kermit channeled Louis Armstrong and then ended with an Adam Levine song. Hats-off as well to the guest slide-trombonist, especially for 'Hold That Tiger': I didn't catch her name, but she was amazing too. Anyway... the book ... perfect mythical text, beautiful illustrations reminiscent of my favorite N.O. artist Terrence Osborne: I just didn't see the point of the 'recipe' in the middle. Gorgeous book, though; I thought it was great.

[Laura Harrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was thrilled to learn that there was going to be a picture book about Jelly Roll Morton. I adore him. And I love Jonah Winter. Unfortunately the wording of the sad, odd childhood and young adult years of Mr. Morton is pretty harsh. I think a more joyful look at Jelly Roll and his music would be a fabulous thing. The illustrations for this title are top-notch.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Styled almost as a jazz riff that twists and turns in unusual directions, this picture book explores some of the possible life experiences that shaped the life of jazz musician Jelly Roll Morton who said he invented jazz in 1902. It's all supposition and guesses just as is the case with jazz itself since many musicians claim to have given birth to this uniquely American music. I like the imaginative approach to a man about whom not a lot is actually known, even his date of birth, but there are some clunky elements such as the insertion of the jazz recipe that just don't fit where they are. While the gumbo is a good description of what the music entails with its influences from many different cultures, it stops the flow of the story. I liked the lovely paintings, but I was taken aback a bit by the first one that seems to show a small cabin in what looks to be the bayou right on the bank of the Mississippi right across the river from the French Quarter where water is lapping at the city's streets. Imaginative? Yes. Accurate in that particular respect? No. Still, as the opening lines say, "Here's what could've happened..." (unpaged). Itwould have been neat to have a CD for a sample of Jelly Roll's playing.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know nothing about Jazz, so I loved this piece of history. Beautiful painted illustrations that seem simple at first, but look close, there is care to them. Nice epilogue explaining the history further. The main story is nice, but it leaves much to be desired. It seems like an intro to something more that the reader is left wondering about.

content: 3/5
illustrations: 4.5/5
overall: 4/5

[Shana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sort of fiction, sort of not. Either way, it's a very jazzy way to write about the man who (may have) invented jazz.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Let's say you had a godmother, and she put a spell on you because she was a voodoo queen.' Oh yeah, that's how you start a story! And if it's not true, it should be - how Jelly Roll Morton, 'one of the most colorful characters in the history of American popular music' came into this world and got gifted. I like this book.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mallett's illustrations are lovely but the text is not informative nor engaging.

[Deborah Martinez · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book itself was okay - the illustrations were fabulous! Interesting to learn more about Jelly Roll Morton.

[Jessie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The style of this book felt really unique. It starts by presenting the early part of Jelly Roll Morton's life as something of a hypothetical, weaves in song lyrics, and includes a recipe for jazz. The focus is mostly on Jelly Roll Morton's childhood and young adulthood; the back matter talks some about his later life.

The recipe is something a lot of people are pointing out as out of place. It does feel like it stops the story, and it's a little awkward. But I think it also honors the extent to which New Orleans is a part of the story, which I like, so I don't know how I feel about it overall.

I loved the illustrations here. They're acrylic on campus (and it's pretty easy to tell), and the colors and lines are really bold.

[Cheriee Weichel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whether or not Jelly Roll Morton actually invented jazz, is not as important as acknowledging that he was definitely integral to its development. This picture book paints, in words and images, significant events in his life. Music was the thing that eased his tears.
It reads like a myth which is completely simpatico for someone of his influence and fame.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Colorful paintings match well with verse text that tell the story of Jelly Roll Morton, from his start as a young kid to his success as a professional. Woven throughout are slightly modified lyrics from a musician who was a contemporary of Morton's.

[Heather Gettys]

Winter, J. (2015). How Jelly Roll Morton Invented Jazz. New York, NY: Roaring Book Press

He was thrown into jail at a young age and music was the only thing that stopped him from crying. He learns how to play the piano and starts playing in bars, his grandmother kicks him out of the house and he turns back to music. He created a soothing jazz.

This book effectively captures the spirit of jazz and has a central theme of music. The media portrays the theme of music with subtle tones.

This could be an important teaching lesson, one where teaching the students about how music plays an important role in some people’s life’s especially during hard times.

[Hannah]

Such a great start and then.....womp womp.

The illustrations are fantastic throughout, however. The womp is just the text.

[John of Canada · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice artwork and a good story.This is a good introduction to jazz

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great elem bio. Beautifully illustrated.

[Melanie Gaum · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really liked the art in this story, but didn't enjoy the text.

[wildct2003 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book

[Sails and Scales · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review also published at The Children's Book and Media Review

This book tells the poetic story of Jelly Roll Morton in a creative way. When he was a baby, his godmother, a voodoo queen, put a spell on him and then got arrested with him when he was just a baby. Music is the only thing that can stop him from crying in jail, and later in life he learns to play the piano so well that he’s playing with the grown-ups in bars. He is thrown out of his house because his great-grandmother doesn’t want a lowlife musician in her home, but he goes back to the one thing that can make his crying stop: music. He invents jazz with a recipe for something sweet, spicy, smooth, bluesy, and something special. And even if he didn’t invent it, he spells it throughout all the towns.

This book is full of bright, colorful pictures with a lot of oranges, purples, and blues to capture the spirit of jazz and New Orleans. The book is written in a poetic form, talking to the reader as “you,” but telling the story of Jelly Roll Morton, although some of the facts are unclear. It presents the story as a possible folk tale origin story. The back of the book contains some facts about Morton and whether he truly invented jazz or not. Although the plot can be confusing because of its half folk-tale, half-historical nature, the illustrations’ ability to capture the spirit of jazz will please fans of that style of music.

[Christina Getrost · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous, vibrant, colorful acrylic illustrations with musical notes flowing throughout them, in deep oranges, purples and blacks. Beautifully written, in a jazzy style, incorporating song lyrics and adding to them. It reads like a folk tale: "Let's say you had a godmother...and she was a voodoo queen," describing Morton's childhood, playing piano at an early age in bars, getting arrested with that godmother; his great-grandmother threw him out of the house later because he was making money as a "lowlife musician," but through that he supposedly created a combination of blues that became jazz. Then he traveled and spread jazz to other cities. In the author's note, Winter clarifies how Morton was full of claims that he invented jazz and other things that may or may not have been true. Only lists two sources, adult biographies of Morton.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

A picture book bio that takes an interesting approach to the writing by asking the reader to imagine all the what-ifs it poses.

Jelly Roll Morton claims to have invented jazz and here the author evokes the atmosphere of New Orleans and the flavor of Morton's formative influences to provide a background for the musician's contribution to music history.

Acrylic paint illustrations are beautiful and are often linked across pages using music notes.

The author's note is very informative and helps the reader understand how the writing of this book was approached. A suggested audio as well as adult bios are included along with a reader discretion advised warning regarding the content in the adult bios.

Recommended for grades 3-5+.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This biography of jazz musician, Jelly Roll Morton, is written in a lyrical second-person narrative with stunning illustrations. In fact the illustrations are stronger than the text because there are many unknowns about Morton's life and Winter's was trying to create a cohesive text suitable for elementary readers. The illustrations capture the power and energy of a jazz musician while the text tells a story of a creative musician who, despite many hardships, contributed to the creation of jazz.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listed in CCBC Choices 2016 under The Arts. Let's say you picked up a picture book....and it was one of the best biographies you've ever read. Jonah Winter and Keith Mallett have created a masterpiece. No one will ever really know if Jelly Roll Morton invented Jazz, but certainly one can learn his important roll in its development. Sweet Spot: Grades 4-8, particulary music classes studying music styles and music history.

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely illustrations and a great lilting, rhythmic voice. A bit lacking on true content, though. Luckily, there is some recommended reading in the back (with a warning that the biographies are for grown-ups) and an author's note that explains some of the maybes and what-ifs in the story itself.
Great for piquing a kid's interest, but expect to have more on hand to satisfy!

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting approach to a picture book biography: text is written to sound similar to a jazz song with its cadence, the blues element, and some repetition. Text has potential, but is not as strong as the art--which is terrific.

Of note/concern for some: a voodoo element is alluded to, but it's for Morton's godmother.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bold and beautiful illustrations but lackluster (and kind of confusing) text. What's up with the weird voodoo godmother who disappears after two pages? I learned more from the "notes from the author" than I did from the actual book.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Biographical picture book for Kinder-4th grade. I liked that the book does acknowledge he was not the only person working with jazz music at the time, "it took a lot of cooks to make that stew." I enjoyed the rhyming story and the illustrations enhance beautifully.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely illustrations and text that has the rhythms of the music born in New Orleans. Not sure who the audience is though.

[Bethany · Rating 2 out of 5]

The jazz-like writing of this book makes it a challenge to read. Plus, the not so happy upbringing may be a barrier for some. It is a shame, because the illustrations bring so much feeling.

[Kimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gave it a four for the pictures. The text wasn't very informative, but it was fun to read. There was a section in the back that had actual biographical information that was pretty useful.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very goo! Great Illustrations! Great Story!