Building a 1920s Jazz Collection: 12 Essential Sets

There are scores of rewarding CDs that give listeners a wide range of the jazz recordings of the 1920s. Where does one start? Those of you who are more accustomed to swing era albums, Dixieland sessions of the 1950s, or more recent classic jazz projects may shy away a bit from collecting 1920s jazz due to the primitive recording quality. However with the advance in technology and the diligent work of today’s more skilled recording engineers, many of the recent reissues of 1920s jazz have greatly improved recording quality from what one experienced in the past. The new versions allow listeners to really get into the music and hear what jazz sounded like 90-100 years ago. There have been quite a few overlapping reissue programs through the years and it can make it a bit confusing for today’s record collectors, especially those who are new to the music. In this article, I list and discuss a dozen essential purchases for those who want a serious (and highly enjoyable) 1920s collection. While veteran collectors will undoubtedly already have nearly all of these sessions, beginners are advised to get all of this music in one form or another. Original Dixieland Jazz Band – 75th Anniversary (Bluebird) - Since these releases are listed loosely in chronological order, one has to start at the beginning with the ODJB. They were not the first jazz group despite their title, but were the f