One does not normally associate Vincent Lopez with Jazz, but at the outset of his career, he co-led with clarinetist Billy Hamilton a successful five-piece Jazz band at the Tokio Cafe in New York. Emulating the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, even down to the titles chosen for recording, they turn in a creditable performance on “Bluin’ The Blues“, taken here from the rare take A.

At the same session, they also recorded the Original Dixieland Jazz Band’s “Dixieland One-Step” (entered in the Edison daybook simply as “Dixieland”), but this title was unissued, the Edison files giving the reason as “Unable to gain copyright approval.” This was undoubtedly because the Original Dixieland Jazz Band’s composition was the subject of a legal case, as the third strain was lifted from Joe Jordan’s “Teasin’ Rag”, and our thanks are due to The Edison National Historical Site and to Joe Moore, who made a tape from a test pressing on a visit to the site.

by John R.T. Davies
(from the liner notes of Ragtime To Jazz 2 1916 – 1922 on Timeless Records) If you would like to order the Timeless Records’ CD of Ragtime To Jazz 2 1916 – 1922 you can do so direct from Timeless Records.

Thanks to Dominic Combe and Robert English for the other recording on this page. 

Also See:

Vincent Lopez and His Hotel Pennsylvania Orchestra (1922-1924)

Vincent Lopez and his Casa Lopez Orchestra (1925-1928)

Vincent Lopez and his Orchestra (1921-1961)

Vincent Lopez and his Hotel St. Regis Orchestra  (1934)

Title	Recording Date	Recording Location	Company
Afghanistan (William Wilander / Harry Donnelly)	2-3-1920	New York, New York	Edison 50658-L Blue Amberol 4043
Bluin’ The Blues (C) (Henry Ragas)	1-9-1920	New York, New York	Edison 50562 Blue Amberol 4044
Bluin’ The Blues (A) (Henry Ragas)	1-9-1920	New York, New York	Edison 50562 Blue Amberol 4044
Bo-La-Bo (George Fairman)	2-5-1920	New York, New York	Edison 50649-L Blue Amberol 4020
Dixieland One-Step (J. Russel Robinson / Nick LaRocca / Joe Jordan)	1-9-1920	New York, New York	Edison (unissued)
Patches (Lee S. Roberts / Callahan)	2-3-1920	New York, New York	Edison 50650-R Blue Amberol 3989
Peggy (Neil Moret)	1-9-1920	New York, New York	Edison 50648-L Blue Amberol 4006

Artist	Instrument
Harold Geiser	Trombone
Tommy Gott	Trumpet
Billy Hamilton	Clarinet
Vincent Lopez	Piano, Leader
Tony White	Drums