Red Hot Peppers
The Red Hot Peppers were a recording jazz band led by Jelly Roll Morton from 1926–1930. They were a seven- or eight-piece band formed in Chicago which recorded for Victor and featured some of the best New Orleans-style freelance musicians available, including cornetist George Mitchell, trombonist Kid Ory, clarinetists Omer Simeon and Johnny Dodds, banjoists Johnny St. Cyr and Bud Scott, double bass player John Lindsay, and drummers Andrew Hilaire and Baby Dodds. Recordings made by the group in Chicago in 1926–27, such as "Black Bottom Stomp", "Smoke-House Blues" and "Doctor Jazz" set a standard for small group jazz that is still unrivaled. Morton's skills as a composer and arranger are apparent in the structure of the pieces, which combines clarity with variety and manages to maintain a balance between ensemble and solo playing while allowing for a substantial solo from every band member. The quality of the recordings is further enhanced by the band's careful rehearsals, which were uncommon in early jazz performances. A number of Morton's best piano solos can also be heard on these recordings. In 1928, Morton moved to New York, where he continued to make recordings under the name Red Hot Peppers, but collaborated with musicians from his regular band or from other orchestras. By 1930, the name Red Hot Peppers was no longer used. Recordings made by the Red Hot Peppers constituted a significant contribution to the race records industry, at its height in the 1920s and 1930s. The masterful blend of composition and improvisation demonstrated by Morton and his colleagues set a precedent for early jazz. |
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1926 - 1930
Roles Represented in DAHR: Musical group
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings
Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Victor | BVE-36239 | 10-in. | 9/15/1926 | Black bottom stomp | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-36240 | 10-in. | 9/15/1926 | Smoke-house blues | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-36241 | 10-in. | 9/15/1926 | The chant | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-36283 | 10-in. | 9/21/1926 | Sidewalk blues | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band, with talk | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-36284 | 10-in. | 9/21/1926 | Dead man blues | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band, with talk | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-36285 | 10-in. | 9/21/1926 | Steamboat stomp | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band, with talk | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-37254 | 10-in. | 12/16/1926 | Someday sweetheart | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-37255 | 10-in. | 12/16/1926 | Grandpa's spells | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-37256 | 10-in. | 12/16/1926 | Original Jelly-Roll | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-37257 | 10-in. | 12/16/1926 | Doctor Jazz stomp | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-37258 | 10-in. | 12/16/1926 | Cannon ball | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-38627 | 10-in. | 6/4/1927 | Hyena stomp | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band, with laughing | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-38628 | 10-in. | 6/4/1927 | Billy goat stomp | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band, with goat imitations | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-38629 | 10-in. | 6/4/1927 | Wild man blues | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-38630 | 10-in. | 6/4/1927 | Jungle blues | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-38661 | 10-in. | 6/10/1927 | Beale Street blues | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-38662 | 10-in. | 6/10/1927 | The pearls | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-45619 | 10-in. | 6/11/1928 | Georgia swing | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-45620 | 10-in. | 6/11/1928 | Kansas City stomps | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-45621 | 10-in. | 6/11/1928 | Shoe shiner's drag | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-45622 | 10-in. | 6/11/1928 | Boogaboo | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-45623 | 10-in. | 6/11/1928 | Shreveport | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance ensemble | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-45624 | 10-in. | 6/11/1928 | Mournful serenade | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-45625 | 10-in. | 6/11/1928 | Honey babe | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-45626 | 10-in. | 6/11/1928 | Sidewalk blues | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-48433 | 10-in. | 12/6/1928 | Everybody loves my honey now | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-48434 | 10-in. | 12/6/1928 | Red hot pepper | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-48435 | 10-in. | 12/6/1928 | Deep creek | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-48436 | 10-in. | 12/6/1928 | You oughter see my gal | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-49452 | 10-in. | 7/9/1929 | Burnin' the iceberg | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-49453 | 10-in. | 7/9/1929 | Courthouse bump | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-49454 | 10-in. | 7/9/1929 | Pretty Lil | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-49455 | 10-in. | 7/10/1929 | Sweet Aneta mine | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-49456 | 10-in. | 7/10/1929 | New Orleans bump | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-49457 | 10-in. | 7/12/1929 | Down my way | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-49458 | 10-in. | 7/12/1929 | Try me out | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-49459 | 10-in. | 7/12/1929 | Tank town bump | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-57080 | 10-in. | 11/13/1929 | Sweet Peter | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-57081 | 10-in. | 11/13/1929 | Jersey Joe | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-57082 | 10-in. | 11/13/1929 | Mississippi Mildred | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-57083 | 10-in. | 11/13/1929 | Mint julep | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-59504 | 10-in. | 3/5/1930 | Each day | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-59505 | 10-in. | 3/5/1930 | If someone would only love me | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-59506 | 10-in. | 3/5/1930 | That'll never do | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-59507 | 10-in. | 3/5/1930 | I'm looking for a little blue bird | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-59532 | 10-in. | 3/19/1930 | Little Lawrence | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-59533 | 10-in. | 3/19/1930 | Harmony blues | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-59643 | 10-in. | 3/20/1930 | Fussy Mabel | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-59644 | 10-in. | 3/20/1930 | Ponchatrain | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-62182 | 10-in. | 6/2/1930 | Oil well | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-62183 | 10-in. | 6/2/1930 | Load of coal | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-62184 | 10-in. | 6/2/1930 | Crazy chords | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-62185 | 10-in. | 6/2/1930 | Primrose stomp | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-62339 | 10-in. | 7/14/1930 | Low gravy | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-62340 | 10-in. | 7/14/1930 | Strokin' away | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-62341 | 10-in. | 7/14/1930 | Blue blood blues | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-62342 | 10-in. | 7/14/1930 | Mushmouth shuffle | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-64313 | 10-in. | 10/9/1930 | Gambling Jack | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Victor | BVE-64314 | 10-in. | 10/9/1930 | Fickle Fay creep | Jelly Roll Morton ; Red Hot Peppers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Red Hot Peppers," accessed September 19, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106012.
Red Hot Peppers. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved September 19, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106012.
"Red Hot Peppers." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 September 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Red Hot Peppers (Musical group) - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n88641277
Wikidata: Jelly Roll Morton’s Red Hot Peppers - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q7304351
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/145557019
MusicBrainz: Jelly Roll Morton’s Red Hot Peppers - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/52e9e9d5-348e-4e25-a9ee-90daf87f9f1d
Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license
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