London blues – Free Jazz Lead Sheet
Bb Major – Jelly Roll Morton 1923
London Blues by Jelly Roll Morton (1923) is a blues-based jazz composition in Bb Major. The piece combines expressive blues phrasing with syncopated rhythms and characteristic piano figures. Its melodic freedom and rhythmic accents reflect Morton's distinctive approach to early jazz piano, making it an interesting piece for musicians exploring the blues roots of traditional jazz.
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“London Blues” is a composition by Jelly Roll Morton, written in the early 1920s during a period when Morton was expanding his repertoire of blues-based piano works. The tune reflects Morton’s characteristic approach to blending blues phrasing with early New Orleans jazz, combining expressive melodic lines with syncopated rhythmic patterns.
Morton recorded the piece during his productive 1920s and 1930s sessions, where it appeared primarily as a solo piano work. Later interpretations by traditional jazz musicians helped maintain its presence in the classic jazz repertoire. Its structure follows a blues foundation enriched by Morton’s distinctive left-hand figures and shifting accents, making it a notable example of his personal piano style.
About the composer: Jelly Roll Morton
Jelly Roll Morton (1890–1941) was a pioneering American jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader whose music helped establish many of the foundations of early jazz. Raised in New Orleans, he developed a highly individual piano style that combined ragtime technique, blues expression, and the rhythmic language of early jazz. His compositions and recordings document an important period in the development of jazz and continue to influence musicians today. Read the full biography in our blog section.
