The Syncopators would never achieve the creative or financial success of his earlier band, but it was still was one of the great bands of the 1920s. They played at the Plantation Cafe in Chicago (338 East Thirty-fifth Street at State Street) from 1925 to 1927 and recorded for Vocalion and Brunswick.
When the Plantation Cafe was destroyed by fire Oliver began an ill-fated tour that ended at the Savoy Ballroom in New York. While on the road the band had been cheated out of money by promoters. King Oliver unwisely turned down a the gig at the Cotton Club in New York City because the money was not up to his standards. The job went to Duke Ellington who became famous while at the club via its radio broadcasts.
The Dixie Syncopators found themselves without work and Oliver was suffering from dental problems that impaired his trumpet playing. The group disbanded in New York. Luis Russell picked up the pieces of the band and formed the Luis Russell Orchestra.
Title | Recording Date | Recording Location | Company |
Aunt Hagar’s Blues (W.C. Handy) | 9-10-1928 | Chicago, Illinois | Vocalion 1225 |
Black Snake Blues (Victoria Spivey) | 4-27-1927 | Chicago, Illinois | Vocalion B 1112 |
Dead Man Blues (Jelly Roll Morton) | 9-17-1926 | Chicago, Illinois | Vocalion B 1059 |
Deep Henderson (Fred Rose) | 4-21-1926 | Chicago, Illinois | Vocalion B 1014 Brunswick 3245-B |
Doctor Jazz (King Oliver) | 4-22-1927 | Chicago, Illinois | Vocalion 1113 |
Every Tub (King Oliver / Paul Barbarin) | 4-22-1927 | Chicago, Illinois | Vocalion A 1114 |
Farewell Blues (Elmer Schoebel / Paul Mares / Leon Roppolo) | 11-18-1927 | Chicago, Illinois | Vocalion A 1152 Perfect 15685-A Brunswick 3741-A |
Four Or Five Times (vocal) (Hellman / Gay) | 8-13-1928 | Chicago, Illinois | Brunswick 4028 |
Four Or Five Times (Hellman / Gay) | 8-13-1928 | Chicago, Illinois | Brunswick A-7890 |
Got Everything (Don’t Want Anything But You) (A) (vocal) (Andy Razaf / Jack Palmer) | 8-13-1928 | Chicago, Illinois | Brunswick 4028 |
Got Everything (Don’t Want Anything But You) (B) (Andy Razaf / Jack Palmer) | 8-13-1928 | Chicago, Illinois | Brunswick A-7890 |
Got Everything (Don’t Want Anything But You) (G) (Andy Razaf / Jack Palmer) | 8-13-1928 | Chicago, Illinois | Brunswick |
Jackass Blues Vocal Chorus by Georgia Taylor (Art Kassell / Mel Stitzel) | 4-23-1926 | Chicago, Illinois | Vocalion A 1014 Brunswick 3245-A |
I’m Watching The Clock (King Oliver) | 9-12-1928 | Chicago, Illinois | Brunswick 4469 |
Lazy Mama (Gilford / Gray) | 7-11-1928 | Chicago, Illinois | Vocalion 1190 |
New Wang Wang Blues (Henry Busse / Bert Johnson / Gus Mueller) | 9-17-1926 | Chicago, Illinois | Vocalion B 1049 |
Slow And Steady (King Oliver / Delaney) | 11-14-1928 | New York, New York | Brunswick 4469 |
Sobbin’ Blues (Art Kassell / Vic Berton) | 11-18-1927 | Chicago, Illinois | Vocalion B 1152 Perfect 15685-B Brunswick 3741-B |
Someday Sweetheart (Benjamin Spikes / John Spikes) | 9-17-1926 | Chicago, Illinois | Vocalion A 1059 Brunswick 3373-A |
Showboat Shuffle (King Oliver / Barney Bigard) | 4-22-1927 | Chicago, Illinois | Vocalion B 1114 |
Speak Easy Blues | 9-10-1928 | Chicago, Illinois | Vocalion 1225 |
Sugar Foot Stomp (King Oliver) | 5-29-1926 | Chicago, Illinois | Vocalion A 1033 Brunswick 3361-B |
Sweet Emmalina (Andy Razaf / Jack Palmer) | 7-11-1928 | Chicago, Illinois | Vocalion 1190 |
Tack Annie (King Oliver / Paul Barbarin) | 7-23-1926 | Chicago, Illinois | Vocalion A 1049 |
Tin Roof Blues (New Orleans Rhythm Kings) | 7-11-1928 | Chicago, Illinois | Vocalion 1189 |
Wa Wa Wa (Schaefer) | 5-29-1926 | Chicago, Illinois | Vocalion B 1033 Brunswick 3373-B |
West End Blues (King Oliver) | 7-11-1928 | Chicago, Illinois | Vocalion 1189 |
Willie The Weeper (Rymal / Bloom / Walter Melrose) | 4-22-1927 | Chicago, Illinois | Vocalion A 1112 |
Artist | Instrument |
Ed Anderson | Cornet |
James Archey | Trombone |
Paul Barbarin | Drums |
Paul Barnes | Soprano and Alto Saxophone |
Barney Bigard | Clarinet, Soprano and Tenor Saxophone |
Lawson Buford | Tuba |
Bert Cobb | Tuba |
Ed Cuffee | Trombone |
Johnny Dodds | Clarinet |
Ernest Elliot | Clarinet, Alto Saxophone |
Stump Evans | Soprano Saxophone |
Arville Harris | Clarinet, Tenor and Alto Saxophone |
Leroy Harris | Banjo |
Darnell Howard | Clarinet |
J.C. Higginbotham | Trombone |
Teddy Hill | Tenor Saxophone |
Charlie Holmes | Clarinet, Alto and Soprano Saxophone |
Willie Jackson | Vocals |
Richard M. Jones | Vocals |
Will Johnson | Banjo |
Louis Metcalf | Trumpet |
Bass Moore | Tuba |
Albert Nicholas | Clarinet, Soprano and Alto Saxophone |
King Oliver | Cornet, Leader |
Kid Ory | Trombone |
Billy Paige | Clarinet, Soprano and Alto Saxophone |
Andy Pendleton | Vocals |
Luis Rusell | Piano |
Bud Scott | Banjo |
Omer Simeon | Clarinet, Soprano Saxophone |
Bob Shoffner | Cornet |
Cyrus St. Clair | Tuba |
Johnny St. Cyr | Banjo, Guitar |
Georgia Taylor | Vocals |
Leroy Tibbs | Piano |
Benny Waters | Clarinet, Tenor and Alto Saxophone |
Clarence Williams | Piano, Vocals |