[Dixielandjazz] FW: Summary-- first jazz recording and speculation of origin of word jass

[Andrew Homzy]

As a musicologist with deep jazz credentials, I have listened to all of the significant early recordings. I took it a step further than anyone seems to have done, and transcribed “ODJB One Step” and “Livery Stable Blues”. There is no doubt in my mind that the ODJB made the first “Jass” in 1917. The others before it are clearly peppy novelty music drawing upon the superficial aspects of ragtime. The ODJB went beyond that by incorporating aspects of the blues, NOLA parade band music, Caribbean rhythms, Italian tarantella, and most importantly, nascent swing. Improvisation was minimal on those first two sides - because of the requirements for the success of the recording - and attached to that was certainly anxiety caused by the pressure to be successful. Trombonist, Edwards and drummer, Sbarbaro improvise the most.

Proof is that the bourgeoning jazz community recognized the ODJB as a jazz band playing jazz. Their influence profoundly inspired those such as Bix, Benny, Red, Phil and even Louis Armstrong. Further proof is that their compositions have remained a staple in the repertoire for ~~~ exactly 100 years, so far. 

Anybody who disagrees will have to tell me who was influenced by Wilbur Sweatman and who still plays his repertoire.

I will allow this: W.C. Handy wrote some engaging pieces which were beautifully arranged, interpreted and recorded prior to the ODJB's by such as the Victor Military Band and Prince’s Band. However, they are not jazz. Handy’s own recordings of that time are frankly awful. Some of James P. Johnson’s early recordings are very interesting, but as with other early African American pianists recording prior to 1917, the idiom is clearly ragtime or novelty music.

Cheers,

Andrew Homzy
180 Pirates Lane
Nanaimo, BC
V9R 6R1
250-667-0238     www.homzy.ca

> On Mon, Jul 10, 2017, at 10:31 PM, Stan Brager <stanbrager at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> We’ve once more . opened this can of worms regarding the “first” jazz recording. While there is consensus in general that the “Livery Stable Blues” and “Dixieland One-Step” recordings are candidates for the “first” honor, both The Jazz Discography and Brian Rust’s Jazz Records list recordings made as early as 1897. Not having heard these very early recordings but having heard more contemporary renditions of some of these early tunes, I can certainly hear where some elements of jazz music came from.
>  
> There are some contemporary recordings of some of the older recordings such as Handy’s 1912 “Jogo Blues” and Luckyth Roberts 1913 “Junk Man Rag” which generally have a jazz flavor.
>  
> Stan
> Stan Brager
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://ml.islandnet.com/pipermail/dixielandjazz/attachments/20170710/daffbfc3/attachment.html>