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King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band was one of the best and most important bands in early Jazz. The Creole Jazz Band was made up of the cream of New Orleans Hot Jazz musicians, featuring Baby Dodds on drums, Honore Dutrey on trombone, Bill Johnson on bass, Louis Armstrong on second cornet, Johnny Dodds on clarinet, Lil Hardin-Armstrong on piano, and the band’s leader, King Oliver on cornet. In 1922 Armstrong received a telegram from his mentor Joe Oliver, asking him to join the band in Chicago. He nervously accepted and went north to Chicago to play second cornet with the band at the Lincoln Gardens at 459 East 31st Street.

King Oliver Creole Jazz Band Chicago
King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band left to right: Baby Dodds, Honore Dutrey, Bill Johnson, Louis Armstrong, Johnny Dodds, Lil Hardin-Armstrong and in the foreground King Oliver

The addition of Armstrong to this already powerful and popular band took the town by storm. Soon musicians and fans were flocking to hear Louis’ amazing cornet playing with the Oliver band. Louis met his second wife Lil Hardin who was the pianist in the Creole Jazz Band. Eventually it was she who urged Louis to leave the band so that he might live up to his true potential and not get stuck playing second to Oliver.

For high quality restored recordings of the band consider: King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band Off The Record: The Complete 1923 Jazz Recordings

discography

TitleRecording DateRecording LocationCompany
Alligator Hop
(King Oliver / Alphonse Picou)
10-3-1923Richmond, IndianaGennett
5274-B
Canal Street Blues
(King Oliver / Louis Armstrong)
4-5-1923Richmond, IndianaGennett
5133-B
Chimes Blues
(King Oliver)
4-5-1923Richmond, IndianaGennett
5135-B
Dipper Mouth Blues
(King Oliver / Louis Armstrong)
4-6-1923Richmond, IndianaGennett
5132-A
Froggie Moore
(Benjamin Spikes / John Spikes / Jelly Roll Morton)
4-6-1923Richmond, IndianaGennett
5135-A
I’m Going Away To Wear You Off My Mind
(Charlie Johnson / Warren Smith / Lloyd Smith)
4-5-1923Richmond, IndianaGennett
5134-B
Just Gone
(King Oliver / Bill Johnson)
4-5-1923Richmond, IndianaGennett
5133-A
Krooked Blues
(Benjamin Spikes / John Spikes / Bill Johnson)
10-3-1923Richmond, IndianaGennett
5274-A
Mandy Lee Blues
(M. Bloom / Walter Melrose)
4-5-1923Richmond, IndianaGennett
5134-A
Snake Rag
(King Oliver / A.J. Piron)
4-6-1923Richmond, IndianaGennett
5184-B
Sugar Foot Stomp
(King Oliver / Louis Armstrong)
4-6-1923Richmond, IndianaGennett
3076-B
Weather Bird Rag
(Louis Armstrong)
4-6-1923Richmond, IndianaGennett
5132-B
Workingmans Blues
(King Oliver / Lil Hardin)
10-3-1923Richmond, IndianaGennett
5275-B
Zulu’s Ball
(King Oliver / Robinson)
10-3-1923Richmond, IndianaGennett
5275-A

ArtistInstrument
Lil Hardin-ArmstrongPiano
Louis ArmstrongCornet
Baby DoddsDrums
Johnny DoddsClarinet
Honore DutreyTrombone
Stump EvansC-Melody Saxophone
Bill JohnsonBass
King OliverCornet, Leader
Johnny St. CyrBanjo, Guitar

 

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