[Tradjazz] ODJB

[GeoHunt1 at aol.com]

Hi Bruce and Gang:

I ran across this picture of those "five white guys from New Orleans" we 
talked about at Fred's Farm yesterday. 



I learned they were all very active New Orleans musicians, working for "Papa 
Jack" Laine's organization, before they were organized as the "Original 
Dixieland Jass Band" to play a gig in Chicago.  Then they got a gig in New York, and 
that is where Victor and Columbia both recorded the group. Columbia actually 
got them to their recording studio a month before Victor, but none of their 
masters from that session were producible.  Victor did OK, and got their records 
in stores in record time.  Speaking of records, Dixie Jass Band One-Step and 
Livery Stable Blues set a sales record; the largest selling record of any 
category up until that time.  Apparently, when people heard those sounds (noises?) 
on Livery Stable they just had to have that record.

The word "Jass" did appear on that record, but Victor learned that some 
people in New Orleans considered that to be a dirty word and they changed it to 
"Jazz".

I think I said the "five white guys" really didn't play in New Orleans before 
they formed that band to play in Chicago.  What I really meant was they never 
appeared as the Original Dixieland Jass Band in the Storyville red light 
district in New Orleans where all the real jazz bands played.

The "five white guys" were no doubt very accomplished musicians, they knew 
how to play jazz, and (I think) on February 26, 1917, they made the first jazz 
recording issued to the public.  Incidentally, a feat for the Victor Talking 
Machine Company. 

I should name those five musicians here:
Nick LaRocca, Cornet 
Larry Shields, Clarinet
Eddie Edwards, Trombone
Henry Ragas, Piano
Tony Sparbaro, Drums.

Forever known as the Original Dixieland Jazz Band.

George Hunt
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