The Jelly Roll Morton legend has grown by leaps and bounds in the 90's with re-issues of Morton's recordings, Jelly's Last Jam, a Broadway musical starring Gregory Hines, and now 'Jelly', the sixth release from The Dirty Dozen Brass Band. Morton's compositions are in good hands with the New Orleans octet who make it sound easy to hold onto the beat, the sense of play, and the sense of place embedded in these well-travelled tunes. This is essential New Orleans music, made more irresistable than ever by a timely, rich, digital recording. The Dirty Dozen pay a faithful tribute taking in Jelly's repertoire and putting out earbending re-arrangements complete with fanciful sycopated solos. All the tunes are recognizably both Dirty and Jelly.

While a few tracks on Jelly stand out due to sparkling arrangements by Gregory Davis, Roger Lewis, et al., it is a proper experience to let the whole cd wash over you in one listening. The group plays like a team with help from sidemen such as Eddie Bo on piano on "Dead Man's Blues", and 'Big Chief' and Smiley Ricks on the distinctive conga intro to "Jungle Blues". On 'Jelly', the Dirty Dozen creates aural and thematic unity and takes it in stride, most other recording artists these days would be doing well to perceive this as a potential goal.

The Dirty Dozen commemorate the importance of tradition as part of their job as a New Orleans Brass Band. For them to tackle an interesting one-off project, like 'Jelly', shows their respect for the history of the tunemaker as well as the tunes. Jelly Roll Morton deserves it- always flashy and brilliant as a composer, performer, pimp, pool-shark, card shark, racehorse owner, outrageous dresser and comedian- he stands out as a 20th Century music giant. Appropriately added details flesh out this historical project and set the composer's life and times against the background relief of his sounds. For example, in order to establish the feel of the tawdry late night atmosphere of the Red Light District during Jelly's time, on track five the late Danny Barker paints a picture in words of those wild, drunken times. He ought to know, he played with Jelly back in 1930! Jelly would be glad to be making such a strong comeback as he is on 'Jelly'.