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1920's Jazz Music -- I know nothing!


Matthew

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One of the areas of music I want to explore for 2013 is jazz from the 1920's, which is an era I've become fascinated with in general -- the fashion, the literature, art, and music, etc. I know nothing outside of the Armstrong / Oliver / Morton cds, and I would like to know which cds I need to get. Any recommendations are greatly appreciated.

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So you'ved got the ground covered for 20s Armstrong, Oliver and Morton? That would be important to know because that already is a wide field. Any preferences or personal favorites from what you've heard there?

Generally speaking, if you want to try a wide field and get a general taste of 20s jazz, why not try one those very broad-minded compilations such as Vol. 1 (1900-27) and 2 (1927-34) of Allen Lowe's "That Devilin Tune" box sets?

Each has 9 CDs, and the track selections are very eclectic and not what you would consider a "All Time Evergreens" compilation of jazz from that period but they cover a very wide field and there is good reason behind each of those track selections. Listening to compilations such as these that also cover the ground outside the rut of the obvious might help you explore the whole range of jazz (well, almost ...) from that period and find out for yourself which kind of artists/bands/orchestras you would like to investigate in greater depth later on.

Another important aspect: Pre-1925/26 recordings that were recorded acoustically and not electrically can sometimes be rather demanding to listen to (remastering - GOOD remastering - notwithstanding). The fidelity just is "different". Are your ears tuned and adjusted to that? Because if listening is a chore you won't get that much enjoyment out of it. And that also dictates any recommendations that you might find useful.

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I recommend getting Breaking Out of New Orleans, 1922-1929. 4 CD set on JSP

Includes Original Tuxedo Jazz Band, Louis Dumaine's Jazzola Eight, Sam Morgan's Jazz Band, Piron's New Orleans Orchestra, Ory's Sunshine Orchestra, Fate Marable's Society Syncopators, Cook's Dreamland Orchestra, Freddie Keppard's Jazz Cardinals, New Orleans Bootblacks, Chicago Footwarmers, et al.

Also Chicago South Side, 1923-1930 on Fremeaux, 2 CDs

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Generally speaking, if you want to try a wide field and get a general taste of 20s jazz, why not try one those very broad-minded compilations such as Vol. 1 (1900-27) and 2 (1927-34) of Allen Lowe's "That Devilin Tune" box sets?

Allen's sets do make for great mix tapes of the era! Great sound too.

I'm not sure how you feel about the JSP but there are some "good" JSPs where John R.T. Davies did the transfers and/or mastering. The Bix & Tram is very good and can often be found at inexpensive prices. I went ahead about got the Mosaic too because of Teagarden and just because I ended catching the '20s-'30s fever. Davies also did the work on volume one of the JSP Jelly Roll Morton set as well. I'm fairly sure there's a thread here or maybe on Hoffman that lists all of the issues where Davies did the work. J.A.W. of course can assist with this subject. This is an era that benefits from the best mastering possible and thankfully it's not always overly expensive in attaining.

I ended up liking the Eddie Lang & Joe Venuti Mosaic more than I thought as there's quite a bit variety in the sessions. It's perfectly rational to find it too much of a good thing though some sort of smaller set (I don't know what's the go to) would be advisable to check out, although picking up Allen's 1 & 2 will give a taste of this and all sorts of other goodies.

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here's what we have on Devilin Tune of the 1920s:

22. Isham Jones When Shadows Fall I Hear You Calling June, 1920 23. Isham Jones Wait’ll You See June, 1920

1. Bert Williams Unlucky Blues April 18, 1920 2. Louisiana 5 Weeping Willow Blues Jan., 1920 3. Paul Whiteman Wang Wang Blues Aug. 4, 1920 4. Eubie Blake Sounds of Africa July, 1921 5. Bert Williams Brother Low Down Oct. 28, 1921 6. James P. Johnson Harlem Strut Aug., 1921 7. Zez Confrey Poor Buttermilk April, 1921 8. Ethel Waters There’ll Be Some Changes Made Aug., 1921 9. Al Bernard Frankie and Johnny 1921 10. Ladd’s Black Aces Shake It and Break It Aug., 1921 11. Ladd’s Black Aces Aunt Hagar’s Children’s Blues Aug., 1921 12. Johnny Dunn Old Time Blues Feb. 1, 1921 13. Eubie Blake Ma Sept., 1921 14. Mamie Smith’s Jazz Hounds Royal Garden Blues Jan., 1921 15. Fletcher Henderson (solo) Unknown Blues Sept., 1921 16. Unidentified Muscle Shoals Blues 1921 17. Sissle’s Sizzling Syncopators Low Down Blues March 18, 1921 18. Sissle’s Sizzling Syncopators Long Gone March 18, 1921 19. Southern Negro Quartet I’ll Be Good But I’ll Be Lonesome July, 1921 20. Sophie Tucker Pick Me Up and Lay Me Down in Dear Old Dixieland 1922 21. Husk O’Hare San March 10, 1922 22. Kid Ory Ory’s Creole Trombone June, 1922 23. Kid Ory Society Blues June, 1922 24. Lizzie Miles She Walked Right Up and Took My Man Away Feb. 24, 1922

1. Cotton Pickers I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate Sept. 1922 2. Fats Waller Birmingham Blues Oct., 1922

3. Mitchell’s Jazz Kings Montmartre Rag July, 1922 4. Mitchell’s Jazz Kings Stumbling July 19, 1922 5. Sidney Bechet (Clarence Williams) Wild Cat Blues July 30, 1923 6. King Oliver Jazzin’ Babies Blues June 23, 1923 7. Cotton Pickers You Tell Her, I Stutter Feb. 9, 1923 8. The Georgians Loose Feet Jan. 27, 1923 9. Jelly Roll Morton (solo) Wolverine Blues July 18, 1923 10. Jelly Roll Morton Big Fat Ham Spring 1923 11. The Sunset Band Wolverine Stomp 1922 or 1923 12. Hitch’s Happy Harmonists Cruel Woman Sept. 19, 1923 13. Isham Jones Farewell Blues Jan., 1923 14. Q. Roscoe Snowden Misery Blues 1923 15. Erskine Tate’s Vendome Orch. Chinaman’s Blues June 23, 1923 16. Old Southern Jug Band Hatchethead Blues 1923 or 1924 17. Belle Baker Jubilee Blues 1923 18. Bennie Moten/Ada Brown Ill Natured Blues Sept., 1923 19. Midway Dance Orchestra House of David Blues 1923 20. Charles Matson I Just Want a Daddy July 30, 1923 21. James P. Johnson Scouting Around Aug. 8, 1923 22. Piron’s New Orleans Orchestra West Indies Blues Dec. 21, 1923 23. Ollie Powers Play That Thing Sept., 1923 24. Tom Morris When the Jazz Band Starts to Play April, 1923

1. Midway Dance Orchestra Lots O’ Mama Oct. 19, 1923 2. Clarence Williams’ Blue Five Shreveport Blues Nov. 10, 1923 3. Jelly Roll Morton London Blues Oct. 30, 1923 4. Jesse Crump Mr. Crump’s Rag July 20, 1923 5. Jelly Roll Morton New Orleans Joys July 17, 1923 6. Jimmie’s Joys Wolverine Blues ca. Aug., 1923 7. Mamie Smith (Bechet) Lady Luck Blues Aug. 5, 1923 8. Paul Whiteman If I Can’t Have the Sweetie Sept. 7, 1923 9. Wade’s Moulin Rouge Orchestra Mobile Blues Dec., 1923 10. New Orleans Rhythm Kings Tin Roof Blues March 13, 1923 11. Cliff Edwards Hard Hearted Hannah 1924 12. Fate Marable Frankie and Johnny March 16, 1924 13. Arcadia Peacock Orch. of St. Louis Where’s My Sweetie Hiding 1924 14. Art Landry and his Orchestra Rip Saw Blues 1924 15. Vincent Rose and his Orchestra Helen Gone 1924 16. Elmer Kaiser and his Ballroom Orch. Monkey Business Sept., 1924 17. Charlie Creath Pleasure Mad Dec. 2, 1924 18. Fletcher Henderson Copenhagen Oct. 30, 1924 19. Marion Harris There’ll Be Some Changes Made 1924 20. Mound City Blue Blowers Red Hot March 13, 1924 21. Wendell Hall Comfortin’ Gal Jan. 15, 1924 22. Johnny Bayersdorffer I Wonder Where My Easy Rider’s Riding Now March 17, 1924 23. Original Crescent City Jazz Band Christine March 17, 1924 24. Clarence Williams (E. Taylor/L. Armstrong Everybody Loves My Baby Nov. 6, 1924 25. Harry Reser Sweet Like You 1924

1. Bucktown 5 Really a Pain Feb. 25, 1924 2. Duke Ellington (Jo Trent) Deacon Jazz Nov., 1924 3. Duke Ellington (Jo Trent) Oh How I Love My Baby Nov., 1924 4. Moulin Rouge Orchestra (Ben Selvin) Chicago 1924 or 1925 5. Bennie Moten South Nov. 29, 1924 6. Bennie Moten Goofy Dust Nov. 29, 1924

7. Rosa Henderson Hard Hearted Hannah Sept., 1924 8. Jelly Roll Morton (DeFaut) Wolverine Blues May, 1925 9. Perly Breed Where’s My Sweetie Hiding Nov. 23, 1924 10. Charlie Straight Henpecked Blues June, 1923 11. Clarence Jones Hula Lu Feb., 1924 12. Sioux City Six I’m Glad Oct. 10, 1924 13. The Cotton Pickers Those Panama Mamas April 9, 1925 14. Blossom Seely Lazy March 27, 1924 15. Johnny Dedroit Number 2 Blues March 16, 1924 16. The Wolverines (Bix) Riverboat Shuffle May 6, 1924 17. Jimmy O’Bryant Skoodlum Blues March, 1925 18. Lovie Austin (O’Bryant) Too Sweet For Words Aug., 1925 19. Fred Longshaw Chili Pepper June, 1925 20. Gulf Coast 7 Keep Your Temper Nov. 5, 1925 21. Boswell Sisters Nights When I’m Lonely March 25, 1925 22. Stomp 6 Why Can’t It Be Poor Little Me July, 1925 23. Oscar Celestin’s Original Tuxedo Jazz Orchestra Careless Love Jan. 23, 1925 24. Louis Forbstein’s Royal Syncopators Down and Out Blues May 16, 1925 25. Perry’s Hot Dogs Ain’t No Flies on Auntie Sept. 25, 1925

1. The Tennessee Happy Boys Sweet Georgia Brown 1925 2. Ben. Harney The Wagon Sept. 9, 1925 3. Charles Fulcher My Pretty Girl Sept. 30, 1925 4. Wilshire Dance Orchestra Charleston Charlie Feb., 1925 5. Bessie Smith Squeeze Me Dec. 9, 1925 6. Clarence Williams’ Blue 5 (Hawk/Armstrong/E. Taylor) Squeeze Me Oct. 26, 1925 7. Charlie Creath Grandpa’s Spells Nov. 3, 1925 8. Maggie Jones Dallas Blues Sept. 17, 1925 9. Hitch’s Happy Harmonists Cataract Rag Jan. 19, 1925 10. Hitch’s Happy Harmonists Nightingale Rag Blues Jan. 19, 1925 11. Merrit Brunies/Friar’s Inn Orchestra Sugarfoot Stomp Nov. 14, 1925 12. Blossom Seely Yes Sir That’s My Baby 1925 13. Blue Ribbon Syncopators Scratch March, 1925 14. Brownlee’s Orchestra of New Orleans Dirty Rag Jan. 23, 1925 15. Danny Small and His Ukulele Boys Sweet Man Dec., 1925 16. Jimmie Blythe Jimmie’s Blues June, 1925 17. Jelly Roll Morton Grandpa’s Spells Dec. 16, 1926 18. Ethel Waters (Joe Smith) I Found a New Baby Jan. 22, 1926 19. Cookie’s Ginger Snaps Messin’ Around June 22, 1926 20. Charlie Straight Deep Henderson May 28, 1926 21. Duke Ellington (The Washingtonians) Rainy Nights Nov. 24, 1926 22. California Ramblers Stockholm Stomp Dec. 9, 1926 23. Art Sims and His Creole Band How Do You Like It Blues June 21, 1926 24. Williams Sisters Sam the Accordion Man Dec. 18, 1926 25. Savoy Bearcats Sengalese Stomp Aug. 9, 1926

1. Jelly Roll Morton Sweetheart O’ Mine April 20, 1926 2. Dixieland Jug Blowers Southern Shout June 6, 1927 3. King Oliver Deep Henderson April 21, 1926 4. Francis Carter The Birth of the Blues Sept. 16, 1926 5. Bennie Moten Kansas City Shuffle Dec. 13, 1926 6. Sammie Lewis East Arkansas Shout June 14, 1926 7. Kid Ory/Johnny Dodds Gatemouth July 13, 1926 8. Kid Ory/Johnny Dodds Too Tight Blues July 13, 1926 9. Ben Pollack He’s the Last Word Dec. 17, 1926

10. The Redheads Get With Dec., 1926 11. Coon-Sanders Orchestra High Fever Dec. 8, 1926 12. Brad Gowans I’ll Fly to Hawaii Oct. 26, 1926 13. Chippie Hill (L. Armstrong, R. M. Jones) Trouble in Mind Feb. 23, 1926 14. Ada Brown Panama City Ltd. March 10, 1926 15. Elgar’s Creole Orchestra Brotherly Love Sept. 17, 1926 16. Phil Napoleon Go Joe Go Dec. 23, 1926 17. Thomas Morris Lazy Drag July 13, 1926 18. Margaret Johnson Graysom Street Blues Oct. 20, 1926 19. Fletcher Henderson Hot Mustard Dec. 8, 1926 20. Freddie Keppard Stockyard Strut Sept., 1926 21. Jimmie Blythe Old Man Blues July 26, 1926 22. Sugar Underwood Dew Drop Alley Aug. 5, 1927 23. Sam Morgan Steppin’ on the Gas April 14, 1927 24. The Pebbles Who’s You Tellin’? June 7, 1927 25. Louis Armstrong Hotter Than That Dec. 11, 1927

Bix Beiderbecke/Frankie Trumbauer I’m Comin’ Virginia May 13, 1927 2. Red McKenzie/Eddie Condon Nobody’s Sweetheart Dec. 16, 1927 3. George Olsen Sam the Accordion Man Jan. 6, 1927 4. Ray Miller My Honey’s Lovin’ Arms Feb. 1, 1928 5. Duke Ellington What Can a Poor Fellow Do? Nov. 3, 1927 6. Bix Beiderbecke (D. Murray, B. Rank) Sorry Oct. 5, 1927 7. Louis Dumaine Pretty Audrey March 17, 1927 8. Louis Dumaine To-Wa-Ba-Ca March 7, 1927 9. Bix Beiderbecke/Frankie Trumbauer Baltimore Sept. 28, 1927 10. Jesse Stone Boot to Boot April 27, 1927 11. Reb Spikes My Mammy’s Blues Oct. 15, 1927 12. Johnny Hyman’s Bayou Stompers Alligator Blues March 10, 1927 13. Johnny Doods/Tiny Parham Oh Daddy March, 1927 14. Annette Hanshaw Miss Annabelle Lee Aug., 1927 15. Jean Goldkette I’m Gonna Meet My Sweetie Now 1927 16. Ted Weems She’ll Never Meet a Fellow Like Me May 24, 1927 17. Perry Bradford (Smith/Harrison/Smith) It’s Right Here For You May 23, 1927 18. Dixie Stompers Wang Wang Blues March 23, 1927 19. Sadie McKinney Rock Away Feb. 24, 1927 20. Paul Whiteman Changes Nov. 3, 1927 21. Williamson’s Beale St. Frolic Orchestra Midnight Frolic Stomp Feb. 1, 1927 22. Oscar Celestin It’s Jam Up Oct. 25, 1927 23. Don Voorhees Soliloquy Sept. 6, 1927 24. Miff Mole Honolulu Blues Sept. 1, 1927

1. Frankie Trumbauer Humpty Dumpty Sept. 8, 1927 2. Venuti & Lang Going Places May 4, 1927 3. Frankie Trumbauer A Good Man Is Hard to Find Oct. 25, 1927 4. Paul Whiteman/Bing Crosby I’m Comin’ Virginia April 29, 1927 5. Carson Robison/Vernon Dalhart When the Sun Goes Down Again 1927 6. Paul Whiteman Lonely Melody Jan. 4, 1928 7. Jean Goldkette I’m Proud of a Baby Like You Jan. 25, 1927 8. Earl Hines Stowaway Dec. 8, 1928 9. Jim Jackson When I Woke Up This Morning Aug. 27, 1928

10. Carroll Dickerson Symphonic Raps July 5, 1928 11. Bud Freeman Crazeology Dec. 3, 1928 12. Duke Ellington Swampy River Oct. 1, 1928 13. Burton and Blythe Dustin’ the Keys April 1, 1928 14. Buddy Berton Silvery Moon April 21, 1928

15. Ethel Waters Get Up Off Your Knees June 28, 1928 16. Frankie Jaxon Jaspar’s Barbecue Oct. 28, 1928 17. Ted Lewis Shim-Me-Shaw Wobble July 16, 1928 18. Slim Lamar Goofus Sept. 6, 1928

19. Mart Britt Goose Creek Sept. 14, 1928 20. Louis Armstrong West End Blues June 28, 1928 21. Johnny Dodds Bucktown Stomp July 6, 1928 22. Clarence Jones ‘Mid the Pyramids Dec., 1928 23. Hoagy Carmichel Walkin’ the Dog May 5, 1928 24. Red McKenzie/E. Condon From Monday On May 28, 1928 25. Gladys Bentley Worried Blues Aug. 8, 1928

1. Cliff Edwards That’s My Weakness Now July 12, 1928 2. Tub Jug Washboard Band Lady Quit Her Husband... June, 1928 3. Pink Anderson/Simmie Dooley Tippin’ Out April 14, 1928 4. Chicago Footwarmers Get ‘Em Again Blues Feb. 7, 1928 5. Tommy Dorsey It’s Right Here For You Nov. 10, 1928 6. Boyd Senter Stack O’Lee Blues May 3, 1928 7. Boyd Senter Somebody’s Wrong May 8, 1928 8. Lottie Kimbrough Wayward Girl Blues Aug. 21, 1928 9. Sophie Tucker ‘Cause I Feel Low Down 1928 10. Dallas String Band I Used to Call Her Baby Dec., 1928 11. Frenchy’s String Band Texas and Pacific Blues Dec. 5, 1928 12. Bessie Smith/Charlie Green Empty Bed Blues March 20, 1928 13. Monk Hazel Ideas Dec., 1928 14. Alphonso Trent (Stuff Smith) Nightmare Dec. 5, 1928 15. Paul Whiteman Sweet Sue Sept. 18, 1928 16. Joe Ward and his Swanee Serenaders Traffic Jam 1928 17. The Sizzlers Diga Diga Doo Nov. 27, 1928 18. Carrol Dickerson’s Savoy Orchestra Missouri Squabble May 25, 1928 19. The Dorsey Brothers Melancholy Baby April 24, 1928 20. Thelma Terry Voice of the Southland March 29, 1928 21. Benny Meroff Smiling Skies Dec. 9, 1928 22. Ted Lewis Clarinet Marmalade July 16, 1928 23. Jack Pettis Broadway Stomp June 20, 1928 24. McKinney’s Cotton Pickers Stop Kidding July 12, 1928

1. Duke Ellington Take It Easy March 21, 1928 2. James P. Johnson and Orchestra Chicago Blues June 18, 1928 3. Charlie Johnson Charleston Is the Best Dance of All Jan. 24, 1928 4. Roy Evans (James P. Johnson) Jazzbo Dan and His Yodelin’ Band Sept. 4, 1928 5. Benny Goodman A Jazz Holiday Jan. 23, 1928 6. Lou Calabrese and His Hot Sketches Lip-Stick Feb. 28, 1928 7. Al Bernard ‘Taint So Honey, ‘Taint So ca. 1928 8. Joe Venuti and his New Yorkers Doin’ Things Oct. 4, 1928 9. Horsey’s Hot 5 Weeping Blues Sept. 29, 1928 10. Bix Beiderbecke/Frankie Trumbauer Jubilee Jan. 9, 1928 11. Alec Johnson/Mississippi Sheiks Sister Maud Mule Nov. 2, 1928 12. McKinney’s Cotton Pickers (as Goldkette Orchestra) My Blackbirds Are Bluebirds Now Nov. 23, 1928 13. Chicago Rhythm Kings (Teschemacher, Spanier, Sullivan, Mezzrow) There’ll Be Some Changes Made April 6, 1928

14. Pine Top Smith Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out Jan. 15, 1929 15. Big Crosby My Kinda Love April 10, 1929 16. The Rhythm Boys So the Bluebirds and the Blackbirds Got Together April 10, 1929 17. Louis Armstrong Blue Turning Grey Over You Feb. 1, 1930

18. Red McKenzie/Hawk/Russell One Hour Nov. 14, 1929 19. Jean Cocteau (Dan Parrish & Orch.) La Toison d’Or March 12, 1929 20. Frankie Trumbauer/Bix Beiderbecke I Like That April 30, 1929 21. Carson Robison and his Kansas City Jackrabbits Nonsense 1929 22. Henry Lange and his Bajer Hotel Orchestra Somebody Loves Me July 19, 1929 23. Marlow Hardy and his Alabamans Song of the Bayou Oct. 29, 1929

1. Will Ezell West Coast Rag 1928 or 1929 2. Huerve Duerson Avenue Strut 1929 3. Stellio Orch. Antillais En Sens Unique 1929 4. L’Orchestra Antillais Serpent Maigre Sept., 1929 5. Fats Waller Smashing Thirds Sept. 24, 1929 6. Tiny Parham Jungle Crawl July 22, 1929 7. Missourians Market Street Stomp June 3, 1929 8. Cecil Scott Bright Boy Blues 1929 9. Fred Elizade Nobody’s Sweetheart April 12, 1929 10. Jungletown Stompers Slow as Molasses April 15, 1929 11. Fess Williams Do Shuffle April 22, 1929 12. Paul Tremaine Four Four Rhythm Oct. 4, 1929 13. Emmett Miller Lovin’ Sam Sept. 5, 1929 14. Papa Charlie Jackson Baby Please Loan Me Your Heart 1929 15. Sam Theard You Rascal You 1929 16. Texas Alexander/Mississippi Sheiks Seen Better Days 1929 17. John Dilleshaw Cotton Patch Rag 1929 18. Memphis Jug Band K C Moan Oct. 4, 1929 19. Ikey Robinson and Jimmy Blythe Gin Mill Blues Nov. 16, 1929 20. H.M. Barnes Mandolin Rag 1929 21. Mississippi Mud Steppers Jackson Stomp 1929 22. Clifford Hayes (Hines/Smith/Grundy) Automobile Stomp Feb. 26, 1929 23. Eddie Lang/Lonnie Johnson Handful of Riffs May 8, 1929 24. Jones/Collins Astoria Hot Eight Damp Weather Nov. 5, 1929

1. Omer Simeon/Earl Hines Beau Koo Jack Sept. 11, 1929 2. Walter Pages’ Blue Devils Squabblin’ Nov. 10, 1929 3. Floyd Mills and His Marylanders Chicago Rhythm June 26, 1929 4. Zack Whyte West End Blues Feb. 26, 1929 5. Paul Whiteman Song of India April 5, 1929 6. Eddie Lang/Tommy Dorsey/Arthur Schutt Freeze and Melt May 22, 1929 7. Jimmy Dorsey Prayin’ the Blues June 13, 1929 8. Jelly Roll Morton Freakish July 8, 1929 9. George E. Lee Rough Scufflin’ Nov. 6, 1929 10. Jabbo Smith Sweet and Low Blues Feb. 23, 1929 11. Jimmy Noone/May Alix My Daddy Rocks Me July 8, 1929 12. Blind Leroy Garnett Louisiana Glide 1929 13. John Burris Piccolo Pete ca. Feb., 1929

Edited by AllenLowe
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If you're interested in early Kansas City Jazz, The two volumes of Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra on Frog (Frog 29 & 30) are well worth listening to.

If you're moved and/or imtrigued by Johnny Dodds' playing on the Louis Armstrong sides you have, New Orleans Stomp (Frog 39) and Blue Clarinet Stomp (Frog 3) are both worth listening to, especially New Orleans Stomp, about half of which has Louis playing as a sideman.

I hate to recommend most JSP releases - most of their stuff is material they've taken from other labels who did the real work: collecting 78s and remastering them - but Breaking Out of New Orleans 1922-1929 (recommended by Neal Pomea earlier) is the easiest way to get hold of the New Orleans Wanderers and New Orleans Bootblacks sides, which Johnny Dodds plays on and which are essential.

Finally, do a search and check out threads on the Frog, Jazz Oracle, Hep, and other reissue labels. There's a wealth of information there.

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Be sure and get some of the recordings of the territory bands. I particularly like the "What Kind of Rhythm is That" compilation on Frog that has a number of fine tracks recorded in Kansas City in the 20s and the Timeless Jazz in Texas 1924-1930 compilation that has the precious five recordings of the Troy Floyd band. You can compliment the Kansas City collection by also picking up the recordings of the Bennie Moten band. No duplication.

Edited by John L
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I wasn't going to respond to this thread, because these recommendation threads always turn into lists of absolutely everything. But I wanted to put in a plug for the 1928 Sam Morgan recordings, since they've only been mentioned in passing. They're some of my favorite records, and are available on several CDs.

And the early-20s Bechet/Armstrong recordings (Clarence Williams Blue Five and Red Onion Jazz Babies) are absolutely phenomenal! They're not easy to track down in toto, but they're worth the effort. I've got them all on the Media 7 complete Bechet CDs and the Louis Armstrong and the Blues Singers 6-CD set on Affinity, but I don't know what the easiest way to find them down now would be. But "Texas Moaner Blues" and the Okeh version of "Cakewalking Babies From Home" are as good as any jazz ever recorded.

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  • 8 months later...

a few recommendations would be

Adrian Rollini Groups 1924-27 on jazz archives, really nice small group stuff. Jazz archives also did a cd on the original memphis five which i got recently and is great, that aoustic sound might take a bit of getting into.

The charleston chacers cds on chronological classics, also the miff mole ones.

Armand J. Piron's New Orleans Orchestra (1923-1925) on retrieval

also jazz the world forgot volumes 1 and 2 are good starter cds.

jeffcrom where did you find that louis and the blues singers set? always wanted a decent anthology of those, are they still in print? i just want to hear them although i have a couple of oldish lp anthologies of that stuff.

btw here's my blog on out of print 20s lps, all public domane stuff obviously

vintage20sjazz.blogspot.co.uk

still a work in progress though

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smith_ray_600x200.jpg

For over 30 years, my local public radio station aired "The Jazz Decades", a weekly program featuring traditional, swing, and big band music hosted by Ray Smith, a very knowledgeable and enthusiastic collector of early jazz. Smith passed away three years ago, but WGBH continues to air archived shows Sunday nights at 7pm, as well as offering online streaming anytime. Check it out: Jazz Decades

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WGBH moved the rebroadcasts of Ray's show to 8 pm on Sundays sometime during the summer of 2012. I remember tuning in one night while driving home and being surprised that it wasn't on.

Here's a plug for the 1929 Henry Allen Victor recordings. JSP had a nice reissue of them. The Timeless 2-cd set of Tiny Parham is also excellent.

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