Home » Jazz Musicians » PJ Morton
PJ Morton
It all starts and ends with the music. For PJ Morton, the songs, records, and shows say everything that needs to be said—and more. Whether performing, playing, or producing, the GRAMMY® Award- and Dove® Award-winning singer, songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist, Morton Records founder, and Maroon 5 keyboardist fills one timeless role most comfortably, that of a “Music Man.” In doing so, he consistently crafts work of a classic caliber on stage and in the studio. “I’ve been blessed to communicate through songs better than words or anything else,” he admits. “I believe in the power of music and honesty. When those two things come together, there’s nothing more powerful. I endeavor to be a true ‘Music Man’ who loves these instruments and the lineage that got us here. It doesn’t matter if I’m putting out another artist on my label, making material of my own, producing someone else, or in Maroon 5, I’m a ‘Music Man’ in every way.” 2019 upheld this claim for Morton. Recorded live and released under Morton Records, Gumbo Unplugged garnered a 2019 GRAMMY® in the category of “Best Traditional R&B Performance” for “How Deep Is Your Love” [feat. Yebba] among three nominations. His total back-to-back tally of solo nominations is now five, including a pair of 2018 GRAMMY® nods for the original Gumbo. Just a week prior to the ceremony, he walked on to the world’s biggest stage and delivered a historic performance alongside Maroon 5 at Super Bowl LIII. These moments marked a much-deserved victory lap for the consummate musician. Throughout 2018, he continued a steady expansion of his growing discography. He composed the score for YouTube Premium’s critically acclaimed comedy series Champaign ILL and penned the theme to OWN’s Ready to Love. Not to mention, he wrapped up a heartfelt holiday album, Christmas With PJ Morton, which Entertainment Weekly dubbed “this year’s surprise stocking stuffer.” He touched down on a total of four continents during the six-month Gumbo World Tour, selling out gigs everywhere from Spain and Japan to Seoul, Korea. At the same time, he focused on further building his company. He grew the roster by way of flagship signings The Amours and producer Erick Bardales. Two Washington D.C.-bred sisters, The Amours traveled the world as part of the label founder’s band and could be heard on Gumbo Unplugged as backing vocalists. As Morton manned the board as producer and executive producer back in New Orleans, the pair cooked up a striking, simmering, and soulful debut for 2019.
Read moreTags
PJ Morton, Will Downing, Paul Jackson Jr, Jeff Lorber, Everette Harp, Tito Puente Jr, Maysa & More At The 6th Annual Dymally Jazz Festival
Source:
Daryl Sweeney
The 6th Annual Dymally International Jazz & Arts Festival is being held at Dignity Health Sports Park on the campus of California State University Dominguez Hills on April 26th, 2025 with two stages, a visual arts pavillion and specialty retail and food vendors. The event is set to please jazz lovers from around the globe. The festival is co-produced by Rainbow Promotions, producers of the Long Beach and San Diego Jazz Festivals. This year's festival lineup will include Grammy Winner ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Jelly Roll Morton
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Jelly Roll Morton's birthday today!
The city of New Orleans has the distinction of being the ‘birthplace of jazz’ so its appropriate that in New Orleans in or around 1885 to 1890 would be born the self-proclaimed “inventor of jazz”. Ferdinand Joseph Lemott (Lamothe) and his story is one of mystery, legend, genius, with an incredulous outcome, and original musical score. Being considered a Creole in the Crescent City had its advantages in the fact ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Jelly Roll Morton
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Jelly Roll Morton's birthday today!
The city of New Orleans has the distinction of being the ‘birthplace of jazz’ so its appropriate that in New Orleans in or around 1885 to 1890 would be born the self-proclaimed “inventor of jazz”. Ferdinand Joseph Lemott (Lamothe) and his story is one of mystery, legend, genius, with an incredulous outcome, and original musical score. Being considered a Creole in the Crescent City had its advantages in the fact ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Jelly Roll Morton
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Jelly Roll Morton's birthday today!
The city of New Orleans has the distinction of being the ‘birthplace of jazz’ so its appropriate that in New Orleans in or around 1885 to 1890 would be born the self-proclaimed “inventor of jazz”. Ferdinand Joseph Lemott (Lamothe) and his story is one of mystery, legend, genius, with an incredulous outcome, and original musical score. Being considered a Creole in the Crescent City had its advantages in the fact ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Jelly Roll Morton
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Jelly Roll Morton's birthday today!
The city of New Orleans has the distinction of being the ‘birthplace of jazz’ so its appropriate that in New Orleans in or around 1885 to 1890 would be born the self-proclaimed “inventor of jazz”. Ferdinand Joseph Lemott (Lamothe) and his story is one of mystery, legend, genius, with an incredulous outcome, and original musical score... Read more.
Place our Musician of the Day widget on your website or blog. ...
read more
The Complete Morton Project
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
New Orleans pianist Jelly Roll Morton is widely considered to be jazz's first arranger. Though jazz was considered exclusively an improvised form early on, Morton proved that jazz could retain its joyous, freewheeling feel even when scored on music paper. He also was jazz's first published composer. His Jelly Roll Blues was published in 1915. As a composer, Morton was a powerful force, writing the standards King Porter Stomp, Wolverine Blues and Black Bottom Stomp. He also was among the ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Jelly Roll Morton
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Jelly Roll Morton's birthday today!
The city of New Orleans has the distinction of being the ‘birthplace of jazz’ so its appropriate that in New Orleans in or around 1885 to 1890 would be born the self-proclaimed “inventor of jazz”. Ferdinand Joseph Lemott (Lamothe) and his story is one of mystery, legend, genius, with an incredulous outcome, and original musical score... Read more.
Place our Musician of the Day widget on your website or blog. ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Jelly Roll Morton
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Jelly Roll Morton's birthday today!
The city of New Orleans has the distinction of being the ‘birthplace of jazz’ so its appropriate that in New Orleans in or around 1885 to 1890 would be born the self-proclaimed “inventor of jazz”. Ferdinand Joseph Lemott (Lamothe) and his story is one of mystery, legend, genius, with an incredulous outcome, and original musical score... Read more.
Place our Musician of the Day widget on your website or blog. ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Jelly Roll Morton
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Jelly Roll Morton's birthday today!
The city of New Orleans has the distinction of being the ‘birthplace of jazz’ so its appropriate that in New Orleans in or around 1885 to 1890 would be born the self-proclaimed “inventor of jazz”. Ferdinand Joseph Lemott (Lamothe) and his story is one of mystery, legend, genius, with an incredulous outcome, and original musical score... Read more.
Place our Musician of the Day widget on your website or blog. ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Jelly Roll Morton
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Jelly Roll Morton's birthday today! The city of New Orleans has the distinction of being the ‘birthplace of jazz’ so its appropriate that in New Orleans in or around 1885 to 1890 would be born the self-proclaimed “inventor of jazz”. Ferdinand Joseph Lemott (Lamothe) and his story is one of mystery, legend, genius, with an incredulous outcome, and original musical score... Read more. Place our Musician of the Day widget on your website or blog. ...
read more
