[Dixielandjazz] Re: Dr Jazz key.

[Bill Haesler]

Dear Brian,
Sorry ole mate, King Oliver DID record his composition "Doctor Jazz".
King Oliver and His Dixie Syncopators. 22 April 1927.
It was scheduled for release on Vocalion 1113, but never appeared.
Nevill Sherburn (Swaggie Records, Australia) obtained a tape copy from Jerry Valburn from the only
known test pressing of it.
Oliver's version therefore had its INITIAL release in the 1960s on Swaggie JCS 110 (a 7' LP for
which I wrote the notes). All other LP/CD copies derive from this one test and, according to Nevill,
from the Swaggie tape, which he made provided to MCA and others.
Although Oliver had been promoting "Doctor Jazz" for some months, the JRM version (in Oliver's
written key of Db) was recorded first - on 16 Dec 1926.
The Oliver Syncopators' non-vocal version (still available on CD - Frog DGF34) is in Eb.
Oliver and Morton were close friends.
Another close link was the Melrose Brothers Music Company Inc, which published the Morton and Oliver
compositions at this time. A brother, Walter Melrose, wrote the lyrics to "Doctor Jazz".
As usual, more than you needed to know.
8>) 
Kind regards,
Bill.