Original Dixieland Jazz Band
The first jazz group to ever record, Original Dixieland Jazz Band made history in 1917. They were not the first group to ever play jazz (Buddy Bolden had preceded them by 22 years!), nor was this White quintet necessarily the best band of the time, but during 1917-1923 (particularly in their earliest years) they did a great deal to popularize jazz. The musicians learned about jazz from their fellow New Orleans players (including King Oliver) but happened to get their big break first. In 1916, drummer Johnny Stein, cornetist Nick LaRocca, trombonist Eddie Edwards, pianist Henry Ragas, and clarinetist Alcide "Yellow" Nunez played together in Chicago. With Tony Sbarbaro replacing Stein and Larry Shields taking over for Nunez, the band was booked at Resenweber's restaurant in New York in early 1917. Their exuberant music (which stuck exclusively to ensembles with the only solos being short breaks) caused a major sensation. Columbia recorded ODJB playing "Darktown Strutters Ball" and "Indiana," but was afraid to put out the records. Victor stepped in and recorded the group playing the novelty "Livery Stable Blues" (which found the horns imitating barnyard animals) and "Dixie Jass Band One-Step" and quickly released the music; "Livery Stable Blues" was a huge hit that really launched the jazz age. During the next few years ODJB would introduce such future standards as "Tiger Rag," "At the Jazz Band Ball," "Fidgety Feet," "Sensation," "Clarinet Marmalade," "Margie," "Jazz Me Blues," and "Royal Garden Blues." The group (with J. Russel Robinson taking the place of Ragas, who died in the 1919 flu epidemic, and trombonist Emile Christian filling in for Edwards) visited London during 1919-1920 and they once again caused quite a stir, introducing jazz to Europe. However upon their return to the U.S., ODJB was considered a bit out of fashion after the rise of Paul Whiteman and in 1922 New Orleans Rhythm Kings (a far superior group). By 1923 when many of the first Black jazz giants finally were recorded, ODJB was thought of as a historical band and due to internal dissension they soon broke up. In 1936 LaRocca, Shields, Edwards, Robinson, and Sbarbaro (the latter the only musician to have a full-time career by then) had a reunion and did a few final recordings together before LaRocca permanently retired. Although the cornetist's arrogant claims that ODJB had invented jazz are exaggerated and tinged with racism, Original Dixieland Jazz Band did make a strong contribution to early jazz (most groups that recorded during 1918-1921 emulated their style), helped supply the repertoire of many later Dixieland bands, and were an influence on Bix Beiderbecke and Red Nichols.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
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Barnyard Blues: The Original Dixieland Jazz Band
Jazz - Released by Music Today Records on 10 Feb 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Wild Mood Best Tracks
Jazz - Released by Wild Mood Best Tracks Recordings on 24 Sep 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jazz Figures / Original Dixieland Jazz Band (1917-1921)
Jazz - Released by Collector Records Greece on 10 Sep 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Delight Beautiful Tracks
Jazz - Released by Daylights Nightlights Recordz TM on 10 Dec 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Time Songs Imagination
Jazz - Released by Time Songs Imagination Music Rec on 26 Apr 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sensational Flight Call
Jazz - Released by Sensational Flight Call Recording on 19 Feb 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Nightingale
Jazz - Released by oldies and hits for future on 27 May 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Original Dixieland Jazz In Hi-Fi
Jazz - Released by CoolNote on 1 Jan 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Daylights Nightlights Best Songs
Jazz - Released by Daylights Nightlights Recordz TM on 28 Jan 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
My Magic Christmas Songs
Jazz - Released by Happy Holidays Recordings on 11 Dec 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Original Dixieland Jazz Band Selected Favorites, Vol. 1
Jazz - Released by Charly Records on 21 Mar 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Deluxe Edition
Jazz - Released by deluxer 60's hits on 18 Jul 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Original Dixieland Jazz Band
Jazz - Released by CoolNote on 1 Jan 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
My Music My Mood My Soul
Jazz - Released by Classics Works Recordings on 29 Sep 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jamming Sensation
Jazz - Released by Comfort Classics on 12 Oct 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Return 1935-38 - The Studio Performances
Dixieland - Released by Hep Records on 21 Feb 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo