Vancouver — By thevancouverguide on January 14, 2010 at 2:26 am
Filed under: Announcements, Events, jazz, Performing Arts - Theater & Dance

A Tribute to Jelly Roll Morton at the Patricia Hotel

Ferdinand “Jelly Roll” Morton (1890 – 1941) is a musical icon. He started playing piano in New Orleans when he was a teenager and went on to become of the most acclaimed pianists and composers of ragtime and jazz. At the age of 28, from 1919 to 1921 Jelly Roll Morton made Vanouver his home and lived at the Patricia Hotel where he played piano in the Patricia Cafe (now Pat’s Pub). This was the beginning of a long lost golden age of entertainment that was centred on the Hastings Street strip, now known as the Downtown East Side where some of Vancouver’s most renown heritage buildings, including the Carnegie Library are situation. The original wood floor in Pat’s Pub is a reminder of this history.

Although Pat’s Pub is no longer known for jazz and is home to Vancouver’s Indie-Rock/Pop scene, for one night only on January 15 at 8 pm at the Patricia Hotel, in Pat’s Pub, the room where Jelly Roll Morton once entertained all those years ago, a stellar cast of musicians will perform Jelly Roll Morton’s compositions and the music that has been inspired by one of the most colourful personalities in jazz history.

Performers include Henry Butler, “the pride of New Orleans”, a renowed pianist who has a passion for the music of Jelly Roll Morton. Ndidi Onukwulu, one of Canada’s most engaging performers. The James Danderfer Trio and Brass Roots will make you feel as if you’re right in the heart of Bourbon Street. The taalented C.R. Avery poet/pianist/composer and Moka Only, an exciting urban musician will also perform. 180px-Jelly_Roll_Blues_1915