Artist:Original Dixieland Jazz Band
Song:Tiger Rag
Album:The 75th Anniversary
The Original Dixieland Jazz Band (ODJB) were the very first jazz band to record in 1917. Tiger Rag is their most popular song and they recorded it in 1918. ODJB billed themselves as the Creators of Jazz. Band leader and cornetist Nick LaRocca claimed that ODJB was the first band to record jazz commercially and the first to establish jazz as a musical genre. In 1916, a Chicago promoter approached clarinetist Alcide Nunez and drummer Johnny Stein about bringing a New Orleans style band like Brown's Band from Dixieland to Chicago. The other musicians were Eddie Edwards on trombone, Frank Christian on cornet and Henry Ragas on piano. Christian backed out and was replaced by Nick LaRocca. As Stein's Dixie Jazz band, they played Schiller's Cafe in Chicago. When they started getting better offers, they got rid of Stein and brought in Tony Sbarbaro. Stein was the only one under contract to Schiller's. Also, LaRocca and Nunez weren't getting along so Larry Shields replaced Nunez. ODJB was booked to play a club in New York City. They recorded Livery Stable Blues for Victor Talking Machine Company in 1917. This was the first jazz record. Other similar bands recorded. ODJB recorded Tiger Rag for Vocalion in 1917. They recorded it for Victor in 1918. This is the most popular version of Tiger Rag and you can get it on this budget comp. LaRocca copyrighted Tiger Rag in 1917 but there were claims that it was based on other songs. ODJB continued to record until they split up in the late 20s. They reunited occasionally. LaRocca owned the ODJB name and him and then his son led a version of ODJB for many years. But it all started in 1917. Here's a video for Tiger Rag by Original Dixieland Jazz Band.
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