Teaching Jazz History with “Jelly Roll” Morton, “Inventor of Jazz,” as a Focal Point for Jazz Authenticity Discourse

Because he stands at the intersection of several of the most heatedly debated topics in jazz culture, Ferdinand “Jelly Roll” Morton is a highly valuable historical figure to study. Examining the debates surrounding Morton in-depth may provide jazz educators with a unique opportunity to enrich their jazz history curricula. Subjects discussed include the problematic reliance on oral history interviews in jazz historiography, the contradictions in the historiographical and authenticity discourses surrounding Morton, the notion of folkloric authenticity, and the influence of Alan Lomax and his narratives on Morton's public reception via the Library of Congress interviews. The author offers suggestions on how jazz educators might incorporate the topics discussed into the teaching of jazz history, using Morton as a case study.