Original Dixieland Jass Band
(front, left to right) Tony Sbarbaro (aka Tony Spargo) on drums; Edwin "Daddy" Edwards on trombone; D. James "Nick" LaRocca on cornet; Larry Shields on clarinet, and Henry Ragas on piano. From a 1918 promotional postcard while the band was playing at Reisenweber's Cafe in New York City.
Background information
Origin	New Orleans, Louisiana
Genre(s)	Jazz
Years active	1916–1924 (Reunion: 1936-1938)

Original Dixieland Jass Band (after mid-1917 spelling changed to Jazz) was a New Orleans band which, in 1917, was the first ever to make a jazz recording. The first jazz band to achieve widespread prominence, the Original Dixieland Jass Band is often known by the initials O.D.J.B. The group made the first recordings of many jazz standards, probably the most famous being "Tiger Rag." Original Dixieland Jazz Band 1918 postcard Scanned from original 1918 promotional postcard while the band was playing at Reisenwebers Cafe in New York City. ... Nickname: Location in the State of Louisiana and the United States Coordinates: Country United States State Louisiana Parish Orleans Founded 1718 Government  - Mayor Ray Nagin (D) Area  - City  350. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Jazz is a musical art form that originated in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States around the start of the 20th century. ... 1916 (MCMXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... 1924 (MCMXXIV) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar). ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Year 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... New Orleans is the largest city in the state of Louisiana, United States of America. ... 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar (see: 1917 Julian calendar). ... Jazz is a musical art form that originated in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States around the start of the 20th century. ... Jazz standard refers to a tune that is widely known, performed, and recorded among jazz musicians. ... Tiger Rag is a popular tune, originally recorded by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band in 1917. ...

The band consisted of five musicians who had previously played in the Papa Jack Laine bands, a diverse and racially integrated collection of musicians who played for parades, dances, and advertising in New Orleans. George Vital Laine aka Papa Jack (September 21, 1873 - June 1, 1966) was the most busy and perhaps the most important band leader in New Orleans in the years from the Spanish-American War to World War I. Laine in 1906 Many of the New Orleans musicians who first spread... Children at a parade in North College Hill, Ohio Racial integration, or simply integration includes desegregation (the process of ending systematic racial segregation). ... United States Marines on parade. ... jus like my ass For other uses, see Dance (disambiguation). ... Commercialism redirects here. ...

The O.D.J.B. were billed as the "Creators of Jazz." Trumpeter Nick LaRocca convinced himself, in his old age, that this was literally true, but there is no evidence from the interviews and writings of the other O.D.J.B. members that the rest of the band ever considered it anything more than a snappy advertising slogan. Nick LaRocca. ...

Origins of the Original Dixieland Jazz Band

In early 1916 a promoter from Chicago approached clarinetist Alcide Nunez and drummer Johnny Stein about bringing a New Orleans-style band to Chicago, where a similar band led by trombonist Tom Brown was already enjoying success. They then assembled trombonist Eddie Edwards, pianist Henry Ragas and cornetist Frank Christian. Shortly before they were to leave, Christian backed out, and Nick LaRocca was hired as a last-minute replacement. Nickname: Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location in the Chicago metro area and Illinois Coordinates: Country United States State Illinois County Cook & DuPage Incorporated March 4, 1837 Government  - Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Area  - City  234. ... Two soprano clarinets: a Bâ™­ clarinet (left, with capped mouthpiece) and an A clarinet (right, with no mouthpiece). ... Alcide Nunez (March 17, 1884 - September 2, 1934) was an early jazz clarinetist. ... Bass drum made from wood, rope, and cowskin A drum is a musical instrument in the percussion group that can be large, technically classified as a membranophone. ... Nickname: Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location in the Chicago metro area and Illinois Coordinates: Country United States State Illinois County Cook & DuPage Incorporated March 4, 1837 Government  - Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Area  - City  234. ... The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. ... Tom Brown, sometimes known by the nickname Red Brown (June 3, 1888 – March 25, 1958), was an early New Orleans jazz trombonist. ... For other people called Eddie Edwards see Eddie Edwards (disambiguation) Edwin B. Edwards, c. ... A short grand piano, with the top up. ... Henry Ragas was a jazz pianist who played with the Original Dixieland Jazz Band on their earliest recording sessions. ... Frank Joseph Christian (September 3, 1887 - November 27, 1973) was an early jazz trumpeter. ... Nick LaRocca. ...

On March 3, 1916 the musicians began their job at Schiller's Cafe in Chicago under the name Stein's Dixie Jass Band. The band was a hit and received offers of higher pay elsewhere. Since Stein as leader was the only musician under contract by name, the rest of the band broke off, sent to New Orleans for drummer Tony Sbarbaro, and on June 5 started playing renamed as The Dixie Jass Band. LaRocca and Nunez had personality conflicts, and on October 30 Tom Brown's Band and the ODJB mutually agreed to switch clarinetists, bringing Larry Shields into the Original Dixieland Jass Band. The band attracted the attention of theatrical agent Max Hart, who booked the band in New York City. At the start of 1917 the band began an engagement playing for dancing at Reisenweber's Cafe in Manhattan. March 3 is the 62nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (63rd in leap years). ... 1916 (MCMXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... June 5 is the 156th day of the year (157th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... October 30 is the 303rd day of the year (304th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 62 days remaining. ... Lawrence J. Larry Shields (September 13, 1893 - November 21, 1953) was an early jazz clarinetist. ... Nickname: Location in the state of New York Coordinates: Country United States State New York Boroughs The Bronx Brooklyn Manhattan Queens Staten Island Settled 1625 Government  - Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Area  - City  468. ... 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar (see: 1917 Julian calendar). ... Manhattan is a borough of New York City, New York, USA, coterminous with New York County. ...

The First Recordings

While a couple of other New Orleans bands had passed through New York City slightly earlier, they were part of vaudeville acts. The O.D.J.B., on the other hand, played for dancing and were hence the first "jass" band to get a following of fans in New York, and then record at a time when the USA's recording industry was almost entirely centered in New York and New Jersey. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles. ...

Shortly after arriving in New York they were offered a chance per a letter dated January 29, 1917 to audition for the Columbia Graphaphone Company which took place on Wednesday, January 31, 1917. Nothing came of this audition (though Columbia would invite them back to record after their success with Victor). January 29 is the 29th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar (see: 1917 Julian calendar). ... January 31 is the 31st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar (see: 1917 Julian calendar). ...

The band then recorded two sides ("Livery Stable Blues" and "Dixie Jass Band One Step") on February 26, 1917 for the Victor Talking Machine Company. The record with these titles came out the following month. The ODJB's records, first marketed simply as a novelty, were a surprise hit, and gave many Americans their first taste of jazz. February 26 is the 57th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar (see: 1917 Julian calendar). ... Victor logo with the famous Nipper dog. ... Manufacturers put records inside protective and decorative cardboard jackets and an inner paper sleeve to protect the grooves from dust and scratches. ...

Later History of the Band

After their initial recording for Victor, they recorded for Columbia (after the first Victor session, not before as has sometimes been said) and Aeolian-Vocalion in 1917, and returned to make more sides for Victor the following year, while enjoying continued popularity in New York. Trombonist Edwards was drafted in 1918 and replaced with Emile Christian, and pianist Ragas died in the Spanish Flu Pandemic the following year, to be replaced by J. Russell Robinson. 1921 Vocalion label Vocalion Records was a record label historically active in the United States and in the United Kingdom. ... Emile Joseph Christian (New Orleans April 20, 1895 - New Orleans December 3, 1973) (sometimes spelled Emil Christian) was an early jazz trombonist; he also played cornet and string bass. ... Chart of deaths in major cities The 1918 flu pandemic, commonly referred to as the Spanish flu, was a category 5 influenza pandemic between 1918 and 1920 caused by an unusually severe and deadly Influenza A virus strain of subtype H1N1. ... A pandemic (from Greek παν pan all + δήμος demos people) is an epidemic (an outbreak of an infectious disease) that spreads across a large region (example a continent), or even worldwide. ... J. Russell Robinson (July 8, 1892 - September 30, 1963) was a United States ragtime and jazz pianist and a composer of popular tunes. ...

Other New Orleans musicians, including Nunez, Tom Brown, and Frank Christian, followed the ODJB's example and came to New York to play jazz as well, giving the ODJB competition. LaRocca decided to take the band to London, where they would once again enjoy being the only authentic New Orleans jazz band in the metropolis, and again present themselves as the Originators of Jazz. In London, they made 20 more recordings for the British branch of Columbia. While in London, they recorded the second, more commercially successful, version of their hit song Soudan (also known as Oriental Jass). This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ...

The band returned to the United States in July 1920 and toured for four years. This version of the band played in a more commercial manner, adding a saxophone to the arrangements in the manner of other popular orchestras. In the 1920s LaRocca was replaced by teenaged trumpeter Henry Levine, who later brought this kind of repertoire to the NBC radio show The Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street. 1920 (MCMXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ... NBC (a former acronym for National Broadcasting Company) is an American television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York Citys Rockefeller Center. ... The Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street was a musical variety radio program which began on the Blue Network on February 11, 1940. ...

The band broke up in the mid-1920s and its originators scattered. During the Depression, trombonist Eddie Edwards was discovered operating a newsstand in New York City. Newspaper publicity resulted in Edwards fronting a local nightclub band.

In 1936 the musicians played a reunion performance on network radio. RCA Victor invited them back into the studio, and they recorded six numbers as "The Original Dixieland Five." The group toured briefly before again disbanding. Clarinetist Larry Shields received particularly positive attention on this tour, and Benny Goodman commented that Shields was an important early influence. 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Sony BMG Music Entertainment is the result of a 50/50 joint venture between Sony Music Entertainment (part of Sony) and BMG Entertainment (part of Bertelsmann AG) completed in August 2004. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

Edwards and Sbarbaro formed some bands without other original members in the 1940s and 1950s under the ODJB name. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ...

Back in New Orleans, LaRocca licensed bandleader Phil Zito to use the ODJB name for many years. Nick LaRocca's son, Jimmy LaRocca, continues to lead bands under the name The Original Dixieland Jazz Band today.

In 1960 the book The Story of he Original Dixieland Jazz Band was published. Writer H.O. Brunn based it on Nick LaRocca's testimony, which sometimes differs from that of other sources. 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1960 calendar). ...

The Music of the O.D.J.B.

To those accustomed to later styles of jazz, the O.D.J.B. can sound decidedly corny, with instruments doing barnyard imitations and the fully loaded trap set, wood blocks, cowbells, gongs, and Chinese gourds, but at the time their music was liberating. Those barnyard sounds were also experiments in altering the tonal qualities of the instruments, and those clattering wood blocks were experiments in breaking up the rhythm. The music had attitude to spare compared to the vapid pop music of the time. An extended 4-piece drum kit A drum kit (or drum set or trap set - the latter an old-fashioned term) is a collection of drums, cymbals and other percussion instruments arranged for convenient playing by a sole percussionist (drummer), usually for jazz, rock, or other types of contemporary music. ... Wood block Tubular wood block A wood block is essentially a small slit drum made from a single piece of wood and used as a percussion instrument. ... The cowbell is a percussion instrument. ... A gong is any one of a wide variety of metal percussion instruments. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

It can also be argued that they were amongst the most talented composers of popular music of their day - many of the tunes first recorded by the Original Dixieland Jass Band — such as "Tiger Rag" (which became popular with many colleges and universities with a tiger as a mascot), "Fidgety Feet", "Clarinet Marmalade", "At The Jazz Band Ball" — remain much played "classics" in the repertory of Dixieland and Traditional Jazz bands today. Their tunes were published as co-compositions of some or all of the entire ensemble. Tiger Rag is a popular tune, originally recorded by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band in 1917. ... Dixieland music is a style of jazz. ...

Compared to later jazz, the O.D.J.B. recordings have only modest improvisation in mostly ensemble tunes. Clarinetist Larry Shields is perhaps the most interesting player, showing a good fluid tone, and if his melodic variations and breaks now seem overly familiar, this is because they were widely imitated by musicians who followed in the O.D.J.B.'s footsteps.

In their use of ensemble with breaks, the O.D.J.B. resembled the pioneer black band led by Joe "King" Oliver, a more sophisticated tonal experimenter, and certainly a more creative bandleader. But the O.D.J.B.'s arrangements were wild and impolite and definitely had a jazz feel, and people still refer to that style of music as Dixieland. Joe King Oliver, (December 19, 1885 – April 8, 1938) was a bandleader and jazz musician. ... Dixieland music is a style of jazz. ...

External links

• The ODJB on RedHotJazz Contains .ram files of their vintage recordings
• Jimmy LaRocca's Original Dixieland Jazz Band
• Horst H. Lange: Wie der Jazz begann 1916-1923" 1991, Berlin ISBN 3-7678-0779-3
• H.O.Brunn: "The Story of the Original Dixieland Jazz Band" London 1960