The Complete Original Dixieland Jazz Band

Back in 1917, the Original Dixieland Jazz Band (ODJB) was the first jazz group to ever record. Their version of Livery Stable Blues, which featured the three horns imitating barnyard animals, was a major hit and unofficially launched the jazz age. The ensemble-oriented band (comprised originally of cornetist Nick LaRocca, bassist Eddie Edwards, clarinetist Larry Shields, Henry Ragas and after his death J. Russell Robinson on piano, and drummer Tony Sbarbaro) not only caused a sensation in New York but had major successes in England when it visited in 1919. Personality conflicts resulted in the ODJB breaking up altogether in 1923 but by then the spirited group had introduced such songs as At The Jazz Band Ball, Tiger Rag, Fidgety Feet, Sensation, Clarinet Marmalade, Margie, Jazz Me Blues and Royal Garden Blues, all of which became standards. In 1936 the ODJB had a reunion which resulted in a few recordings by the original five plus a big band headed by LaRocca before the musicians permanently went their separate ways. This historic and definitive two-CD set has all of the recordings that the classic band made for the Victor label including the initial two titles from 1917 and music from 1918, 1920-21 and the reunion sessions of 1936. It belongs in every serious jazz collection.

-Scott Yanow

This double-CD has all of the Victor recordings of the first jazz group to record, The Original Dixieland Jazz Band. The five-piece New Orleans band, which essentially stuck exclusively to ensembles, set the standard for 1917-21 jazz. Their "Livery Stable Blues" (which found the horns imitating barnyard animals) was a big hit, and The ODJB introduced such future Dixieland standards as "Original Dixieland One-Step," "At the Jazz Band Ball," "Fidgety Feet," "Sensation," "Clarinet Marmalade," "Jazz Me Blues," "Royal Garden Blues," and "Tiger Rag." The 23 numbers from 1917-21 (which are rounded out by the humorous "Bow Wow Blues (My Mama Treats Me like a Dog)") were reissued on a single CD by Bluebird, but this two-fer also has The ODJB's "comeback" recordings of 1936; six titles by the original five members, plus eight very rare titles which find The ODJB forming the nucleus of a musical, if not too distinctive, ig band. Important historical music. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide