The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Earliest jazz recording was made 100 years ago this week by New Orleans musicians --

http://www.theadvocate.com/new_orleans/ ... 7ad63.html


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Although LaRocca undoubtedly played the cornet, and I've seen photographs of him doing so, that instrument he's holding in the photo (see link to article, above) is decidedly a trumpet. This is confirmed also by the entry in the Red Hot Jazz Archive (http://www.redhotjazz.com/larocca.html). Note also that he fingers it left-handed, not RH as is standard.

All of the ODJB early recordings have been available in numerous re-issue formats. I have the CD version (BMG - RCA Bluebird 61098-2) issued on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of that Feb. 26, 1917 session in which "Livery Stable Blues" and "Dixieland Jass Band One-Step" were recorded. The CD also includes recordings made in 1918-1919-1920-1921, numbering 23 sides in total.

I play the clarinet in a community band and in January we had a post-Christmas party. I did the unexpected and brought along my Victor III and a stack of ODLJB and Original Memphis Five records. I announced this is the 100th anniversary of the first jazz records and held up Livery Stable Blues and said here is the very first jazz title ever sold. Then I played it. A lot of surprised people, most did not know that I collect. One guy asked, "Is that machine real"? A lot of people have never seen one except in pictures.

Is that machine real? -- I love it! What else would it be? Sometimes the lack of knowledge among our musician colleagues astonished me, but then again, there's no logical reason why anybody should know anything about our fascinations. Sharing the joy, as you did with your presentation, is commendable and gratifying. You may even have made some converts to our hobby thereby. Well done, I say!