Jelly Roll Morton was a legendary jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader who made a significant and lasting contribution to the genre of jazz. Some of the common synonyms used to describe Jelly Roll Morton include the original king of jazz, jazz pioneer, and jazz mastermind. Others use terms such as ragtime pianist, New Orleans roots jazzman, and swing era architect to describe his musical style and influence. Morton was known for blending different styles of music, including blues, ragtime, and jazz, into a unique sound that captured the essence of his city and the African-American experience of the time. Today, his music continues to inspire and delight audiences around the world.