  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 03/01/2015 Gr 1–4—This informational picture book covers self-proclaimed "Inventor of Jazz" Jelly Roll Morton's contribution to the musical scene." Winter describes the atmosphere of the early 1900s in general terms and often uses rhyming verses to advance the story ("I thought I heard Mister Jelly Roll too/Sayin' 'I invented jazz in 1902./It was me who invented jazz—'cause it sure wasn't you.'/I thought I heard him too…"). The text is confusing in places, and readers may have to refer to the back matter to clarify certain statements. For instance, the author explains that Morton didn't truly invent jazz but created his own, inimitable style. It's Mallett's attractive, painterly, oil-on-canvas illustrations that are the real draw here, with many spreads featuring dark silhouettes positioned on vibrant backgrounds of orange and yellows among a swirl of musical notes. VERDICT While this book isn't one of Winter's strongest works, there is a dearth of material on this star jazz musician, making it suitable supplemental material on the Jazz Age or a possibility for biography collections.—Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA - Copyright 2015 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 06/01/2015 *Starred Review* As he did earlier in Dizzy (2006) and Jazz Age Josephine (2012), Winter uses lyrical language and simple text to convey the essence of a jazz great, Jelly Roll Morton. He asks readers to imagine growing up like Mister Jelly Roll. What would have happened if they were born in New Orleans, got arrested as an infant in a saloon, or grew up playing piano in bars? Winter emphasizes Morton’s early years and his musical significance, and Mallett’s expressive illustrations (reminiscent of Archibald Motley’s Jazz Age paintings) are well suited to the melodic text. The art features languid characters who sway to Morton’s music, scenes with characters in dramatic silhouette, and instruments exuding sparkling notes. Morton infamously bragged that he invented jazz, and while Winter doesn’t completely agree, he suggests that Morton possessed the recipe for jazz, combining elements to create a musical gumbo that was spicy, bluesy, syncopated, symphonic, improvisational, and “spectacularamicus!” The “voodoo spell / of Jelly Roll magic” soars from the page and will enchant modern readers. Appended with an author’s note and further reading, this makes a wonderful introduction to an artist unknown to most kids. Pair with a side of Morton’s music for the complete Jelly Roll experience. - Copyright 2015 Booklist. Bulletin for the Center... - 09/01/2015 In this picture-book bio, Winter backtracks through the life of Ferdinand Joseph La Menthe, aka Jelly Roll, to speculate on how and why he elevated himself as inventor of jazz, a contentious claim, to say the least. His early years are recounted here in an enticing series of scenarios beginning “Let’s say . . . ” that fairly beg to be read aloud: “Let’s say you had a godmother, and she put a spell on you because she was a voodoo queen”; “Let’s say [that godmother] got arrested and thrown in jail, and you got tossed in the can as well.” Listeners follow closely in the boy’s steps as he hangs with a rough set, teaches himself to play piano, makes good money in seedy clubs, and gets tossed out by his family. “And only one thing, just one thing in the world, could make the crying stop”-jazz. At this point, Winter takes a stylistic turn, quoting and expanding on lyrics from rival claimant Buddy Bolden’s “Buddy Bolden’s Blues” (a tamer version, here, than Bolden’s original “Funky Butt”), and launching an extended metaphor of jazz as a gumbo stew, before returning to Morton’s career. An informative endnote expands information, discusses Jelly Roll’s boastful ways in more detail, offers a few adult resources, and encourages kids to check out an historic recording with music historian Alan Lomax. The fluid lines, golden illumination, and atmospheric silhouettes of Mallett’s artwork provide an engaging visual accompaniment to Winter’s storytelling. EB - Copyright 2015 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. Loading...
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