[Dixielandjazz] tuba, bass sax etc.

[Bill Haesler]

Stephen G Barbone wrote [in part]:
> 1) If Oliver did not actually use a string bass, why do his publicity photos include one?
> Perhaps he did in live performance, but was unhappy with the way it recorded and so switched to the instruments you mention when recording in 1923.

Dear Steve,
Those photographs were taken in late 1922 when Johnson WAS in the band.
The first Oliver Creole Jazz Band recordings were made in April 1923 almost 12 months after it was formed, by which time Johnson seems to have become a non-playing business manager.
However, Johnson (who ran the original Creole Band and probably still owned the name) may well have left Oliver by May 1923 when the band changed its name to King Oliver's Jazz Syncopators. 
Until someone finds the evidence, we can only speculate.
However, I do suspect that Oliver was probably already experimenting with his musical line-up.
Kind regards,
Bill.