Jelly Roll Soul, July 1982

“Jelly Roll Soul, to be given a single performance on Sunday 11 July, is a celebration in words and music of the life and times of the great jazz pioneer Jelly Roll Morton — marking the 80th anniversary of the year in which he claimed to have ‘invented’ jazz. John Cumming’s script draws freely on the autobiography which Morton recorded for the US Library of Congress in 1938, while Tony Haynes’ musical score combines new material with such Morton classics  as Mr. Jelly Lord, The Pearls, and King Porter Stomp. The show, which was first given to terrific acclaim at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, last year, is presented by The Grand Union, featuring Tony Armatrading (and yes, he is, he’s her brother!) and Claudette Williams, with a musical ensemble using keyboards, banjo, tuba, violin, saxes, clarinet, drums, congas, tuned percussion and more besides! A colourful and richly entertaining piece of musical theatre, and a must for all jazz fans!”

All seats £2.50 (c: £1.75)