King Oliver
Joe "King" Oliver was one of the great New Orleans legends, an early giant whose legacy is only partly on records. In 1923, he led one of the classic New Orleans jazz bands, the last significant group to emphasize collective improvisation over solos, but ironically his second cornetist (Louis Armstrong) would soon permanently change jazz. And while Armstrong never tired of praising his idol, he actually sounded very little like Oliver; the King's influence was more deeply felt by Muggsy Spanier and Tommy Ladnier.
Although originally a trombonist, by 1905 Oliver was playing cornet regularly with various New Orleans bands. Gradually he rose to the top of the crowded local scene, and in 1917 he was being billed "King" by bandleader Kid Ory. A master of mutes, Oliver was able to get a wide variety of sounds out of his horn; Bubber Miley would later on be inspired by Oliver's expertise. In 1919, Oliver left New Orleans to join Bill Johnson's band at the Dreamland Ballroom in Chicago. By 1920, he was a leader himself and, after an unsuccessful year in California, King Oliver started playing regularly with his Creole Jazz Band at the Lincoln Gardens in Chicago. He soon sent for his protégé Louis Armstrong, and with clarinetist Johnny Dodds, trombonist Honore Dutrey, pianist Lil Harden, and drummer Baby Dodds as a core, Oliver had a remarkable band whose brilliance was only hinted at on records. As it is, the group's 1923 sessions far exceeded any jazz previously recorded; Oliver's three chorus solo on "Dippermouth Blues" has since been memorized by virtually every Dixieland trumpeter.
Unfortunately, the Creole Jazz Band gradually broke up in 1924. Oliver recorded a pair of duets with pianist Jelly Roll Morton but otherwise was off records that year. He took over Dave Peyton's band in 1925 and renamed it the Dixie Syncopators; Barney Bigard and Albert Nicholas were among the members. New recordings resulted (including "Snag It," which has a famous eight-bar passage by Oliver) but when the cornetist moved to New York in 1927, his music was behind the times and he made some bad business decisions (including turning down a chance to play regularly at the Cotton Club). Worse yet, his dental problems (caused partly by an early liking of sugar sandwiches) made playing cornet increasingly painful and, on many of his later recordings, Oliver is barely present (although he did a heroic job on 1929's "Too Late"). Pianist Luis Russell took over the Dixie Syncopators in 1929 and, although Oliver's last recordings (from 1931) are superior examples of hot dance music, he was quickly becoming a forgotten name. Unsuccessful tours in the South eventually left Oliver stranded there, working as a manager of a poolhall before his death at age 52.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
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The World's Jazz Crazy
King Oliver, Red Onion Jazz Babies, Trixie Smith & her Down Home Syncopators
Jazz - Erschienen bei Cherry Red Records am 18.03.2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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My Music My Mood My Soul
Jazz - Erschienen bei Classics Works Recordings am 29.09.2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Because I Am Your Friend
King Oliver, Chocolate Dandies (King Oliver's Orch.)
Jazz - Erschienen bei Because I Am Your Friend am 23.10.2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Farewell Blues
Jazz - Erschienen bei Music Today Records am 27.04.2015
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King Oliver and His Dixie Syncopators
King Oliver, King Oliver & His Dixie Syncopators
Jazz - Erschienen bei Jazz Essential am 13.06.2018
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Jazz Figures / King Oliver (1923 -1930)
Jazz - Erschienen bei Collector Records Greece am 10.08.2011
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The King Of New Orleans
Jazz - Erschienen bei Saar srl am 24.07.2015
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The King of Jazz Story - All Original Recordings - Remastered
Jazz - Erschienen bei Silver Classics Jazz am 24.10.2013
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My Happy Heaven (Remastered)
Jazz - Erschienen bei Underground Inside Records am 11.03.2016
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The Complete Joseph King Oliver, Vol.1
Jazz - Erschienen bei King Jazz am 01.01.2013
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The Cradle of Jazz - King Oliver
Jazz - Erschienen bei History am 04.01.2000
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High Society (78Rpm Remastered)
Blues - Erschienen bei Oldies But Goodies Records am 20.02.2023
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Jubilee
Alternativ und Indie - Erschienen bei 4013212 Records DK2 am 03.01.2023
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King Oliver's Dixie Syncoptors
Jazz - Erschienen bei CoolNote am 01.01.2000
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King Oliver & His Dixie Syncopators 1926
Jazz - Erschienen bei CoolNote am 01.01.2000
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King Oliver (Featuring His Dixie Syncopaters) - Willie The Weeper
Jazz - Erschienen bei Charly Records am 25.06.2006
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