Jelly Roll Plays Morton

On today's music scene, many people devote themselves to paying tribute to important artists-a truly noble aim. However, the point of a tribute undoubtedly lies in the idea, in the creative act that supports this process. A tribute is meaningful if it moves against the indifference and the tendency toward celebration that is rampant today, if it focuses on an artist's work, increasing the possibilities of knowledge and nurturing opportunities to pursue new paths. The work of Helga Plankensteiner and her collaborators has often turned to the history of jazz, to unveil new reading routes and develop original perspectives. The already well-established BARIONDA, involving four baritone saxes and drums, is a cheerful example of paying homage to artists such as Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus, Gerry Mulligan and Pepper Adams.

The current work, JELLY ROLL PLAYS MORTON, explores one of the legendary figures of the origins of Jazz with splendid sensitivity - Ferdinand Jelly Roll Morton, pianist, composer, leader, singer.

With her Jelly Roll Quintet, Plankensteiner tackles Morton's splendid legacy with an attitude that on a first listen appears joyful, colourful, rich in moods and dynamics, with a few sprinklings of funk amid the rhythms of early 20th-century New Orleans.

Artists: Glauco Benedetti - Tuba Michael Losch - Piano Achille Succi - Clarinet Helga Plankensteiner - Bariton Saxophone Marco Solda - Drums