Hot Jazz (Roaring 20s)

[GroverOverton08]

If Hot Jazz was so popular in the Roaring 20s, Jazz Age, Prohibition Era, whatever you wanna call it- why are the records from the era so rare?

I see a whole lotta reissues mostly from the 40s and 50s, but the original King Oliver's and Original Dixieland Jazz Band records are real expensive. A lot of unknown Okeh hot jazz from the early 20s, too.

Anyway, my theory was that it was underground, since hot jazz was seen as taboo.

[Liamhamb30]

A lot of the "hottest" jazz records were recorded by primarily black bands, and those records were advertised and released under the label of race recordings. Hot jazz was in no way considered underground at that point though, even white bands were changing their sound and adapting to changing tastes, like Paul Whiteman or Coon-Sanders. The hard to find stuff is usually the territory recordings and records made by one off session bands. Stuff like Slim Lamar, Stovepipe No. 1, Punch Miller, Albert Wynne, Johnny Bayersdorffer, etc. And ODJB records really aren't that expensive, copies were sold in the thousands at that time. You can regularly find good copies of their biggest hits for $5 and less, such as Ostrich Walk, Palesteena, Livery Stable Blues, Royal Garden Blues, and other titles. Record companies knew jazz sold, they made sleeves and catalogs heavily advertising jazz bands. Regional differences in taste are also important to consider. You're more likely to find hot jazz in a place like the south than you are in a place like Vermont, central Europe, or Asia.