Jelly Roll Morton

Bob Greene made a name for himself as he expanded the legacy of Jelly Roll Morton. Growing up in New York and playing piano from an early age, Bob became a well-known jazz performer whose style was influenced by the composer and jazz pioneer, Jelly Roll Morton. Even decades after Morton’s passing, Bob provided seminars and musical programs showcasing the talents of his musical mentor. In the early part of his career he worked closely with clarinetist Bobby Gordon. The two men did not play together for over 40 years once Bobby moved to San Diego.

Hal Smith is a drummer deeply rooted in the traditional ragtime and early jazz styles. His performances are often a history lesson not just in sound but in the techniques of creative jazz musicians he admires such as Baby Dodds and Paul Barbarin. Hal’s musical hero is the pioneering pianist, songwriter and bandleader Jelly Roll Morton, whose innovative rags provided clever and sometimes intricate rhythms and tempo changes perfectly fitted to Hal’s interpretations.

Kris Tokarski is a skilled jazz pianist who has helped prolong the legacies of several early musical pioneers by not only playing their compositions, but by embracing their techniques and their approach to music. Among his heroes and for whom he also spoke about during his NAMM Oral History interview are Scott Joplin, Jelly Roll Morton and Teddy Wilson. Kris has recorded in early jazz traditions from ragtime to bebop as well as his own style and has been a driving force during several well-known musical festivals including The Montreal Jazz Fest, The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage