Red Hot Bands

The Red Heads sessions predated Red Nichols and his Five Pennies, but was basically the same group. Title Recording Date Recording Location Company A Good Man

The New Orleans Owls descended from The Invincibles String Band which had been playing around New Orleans since 1912. The band played regularly at the

Title Recording Date Recording Location Company Dark Town Strutters Ball (Shelton Brooks) 4-5-1928 Chicago, Illinois Paramount 12654-B 20564-2 Friars Point Shuffle (Eddie Condon / Red McKenzie ) 4-5-1928

Here are some Austin High Gang recordings with a very young Gene Krupa inspiring them with his driving beat on the drums. Eddie Condon does the vocal on There’ll Be Some

Title Recording Date Recording Location Company Harlem Fuss (Fats Waller) 3-1-1929 New York, New York Victor V-38050 Bluebird 10185 I Need Someone Like You (Abel

Lillie Delk Christian has an absolutely great backup band on these sessions, but her vocals often leave a little to be desired. The best of

These fine sessions caused a lot of discord in the Armstrong household. Columbia records approached Lil Hardin-Armstrong about writing and recording some songs. Louis was not allowed

Two records of this session were released under the name of the New Orleans Wanderers. Title Recording Date Recording Location Company Flat Foot (Lil Hardin

Violinist Carroll Dickerson was leader of this orchestra at the Savoy Ballroom in Chicago. The orchestra also toured the Pantages Vaudeville circuit. The band included

Violinist Carroll Dickerson led this orchestra at the Savoy Ballroom at South Parkway and East 47th Street in Chicago and toured the Pantages Vaudeville circuit.

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

Title Recording Date Recording Location Company Dixie Stomp (Tremaine) 4-3-1928 Chicago, Illinois Vocalion 15690 Drifting And Dreaming (Haven Gillespie / Egbert Van Alstyne) 4-3-1928 Chicago,

  Title Recording Date Recording Location Company Bogalousa Strut (Sam Morgan) 10-22-1927 New Orleans, Louisiana Columbia 14351-D Down By The Riverside (traditional) 10-22-1927 New Orleans,

Title Recording Date Recording Location Company Ain’t It Nice? (Alex Hill / Irving Mills) 9-10-1934 New York, New York Vocalion 2826-B Functionizin’ (Fats Waller) 9-10-1934 New York,

Sammy Stewart’s Ten Knights Of Syncopation were originally from Columbus, Ohio. The band started out in 1918 performing under the name of Sammy Stewart’s Singing

Jazz musicians, writers and critics are almost universal in turning a sour face when the mention of a society band or sweet music is made.

Title Recording Date Recording Location Company Gates Blues 10-10-1928 Chicago, Illinois Vocalion 1236 C-2429-A Gates Blues 10-10-1928 Chicago, Illinois Vocalion unissued C-2429-B Mississippi Wobble (Alex

Paul Howard’s Quality Serenaders as a name may mean little to European enthusiasts, perhaps because only one side “New Kinda Blues” was ever released outside

Doc Cook and his 14 Doctors of Syncopation worked at the Casino dance hall at the White City amusement park during the late 1920s. The amusement

Cookie’s Gingersnaps is a small group taken from Doc Cook and his Dreamland Orchestra Title Recording Date Recording Location Company Here Comes The Hot Tamale

Paddy Harmon’s Dreamland Ballroom was located on the Near West Side of Chicago at the intersection of Paulina and Van Buren streets. Paddy Harmon’s was

Title Recording Date Recording Location Company Blue Grass Blues (Billy Meyers / Elmer Schoebel) 1-1924 New York, New York Paramount 20314 1645-1 Blue Grass Blues

Title Recording Date Recording Location Company Dixie Blues (Perry Bradford / McCoy / Hendrix) 3-13-1923 New York, New York Columbia A3878 Sugar Blues (Lucy Fletcher / Clarence

Title Recording Date Recording Location Company I Promised Not To Holler, But Hey! Hey! (Johnny Dunn) 10-30-1923 New York, New York Columbia 13004-D Jazzin’ Babies

The 1928 sessions called Johnny Dunn and his Band are interesting in that Dunn plays with three of the greats of 1920s Jazz piano, Jelly Roll Morton on the March 13th

Title Recording Date Recording Location Company Bugle Blues (Robert Kelly) 12-21-1921 New York, New York Columbia A3541 Four O’Clock Blues (Johnny Dunn / Gus Horsley) 9-21-1922

Title Recording Date Recording Location Company Daddy Change Your Mind (Frank Guarente) 1-12-1924 New York, New York Columbia 14008-D I Don’t Know I Don’t Care

Edith Wilson and trumpet player Johnny Dunn first worked together in the musical revue “Put And Take” in 1921 and then went on to perform in Lew Lesile’s

Title Recording Date Recording Location Company Persian Rug (Gus Kahn / Neil Morét) 3-27-1928 Camden, New Jersey Victor 21346-A ‘Sippi (1) (From “Keep Shuffin’”) (Johnson /

Hardly known outside of a small Jazz coterie, this small band contrived to create an ensemble effect much like the Fletcher Henderson outfit. Charlie Johnson played

Charley Straight (January 16, 1891 – September 22, 1940) started his musical career in the early 1910’s as a solo piano player and by circa

At the request of Mayo Williams of the Brunswick Record Company of Chicago, Jabbo Smith formed his Rhythm Aces, a quintet with which he recorded

Title Recording Date Recording Location Company As Long As I Have You (Harbach / Lewis / Simon) 6-21-1926 New York, New York Okeh 40675-B How

What’s The Use Of Lovin’? was released under the name of Anna Oliver and Young’s Creole Jazz Band. All of the other recordings were released under

Title Recording Date Recording Location Company Golden Lily Blues Vocal Chorus by Kid Punch (Francois Moseley / Punch Miller) 11-2-1930 Chicago, Illinois Melotone M 12009

New Orleans native Jimmie Noone led this band at the Apex Club on the second floor of 330 East 35th Street in Chicago’s Southside from 1928

Paramount 12747 was released under the name of the Clarence Jones and his Orchestra and Okeh 8404 was released under the name of Clarence Jones

This record was released on the Harmograph label as Ethel Mayes accompanied by Clarence Wright at the piano with the Harmograph Trio. Also see: Clarence Jones

Helen Savage’s only other recordings were with Jimmie Noone’s Apex Club Orchestra Title Recording Date Recording Location Company For Just A Little Love From You 8-21-1929

Title Recording Date Recording Location Company Congo Love Song 9-23-1929 Chicago, Illinois Brunswick BR7115 Easy Rider 9-23-1929 Chicago, Illinois Brunswick BR7127 Storybook Ball 9-23-1929 Chicago,

  Title Recording Date Recording Location Company All By Yourself In The Moonlight 12-13-1928 London, England Parlophone R-252 Kismit K-705 Bandana Days From “Shuffle Along”

Not to be confused with Johnny Dunn’s Jazz Hounds, Mamie Smith’s Jazz Hounds, or the several other similarly named groups. Louis Metcalf is the cornet

Charles Creath was one of the principal leaders in St. Louis from 1928 onwards. A Missouri man himself, and able to play saxophone and accordian as

Harry Cooper’s group also recorded as Sara Martin accompanied by Harry’s Happy Four. Cooper would go on to play in the Cotten Club Orchestra, The Washingtonians, Billy

Title Recording Date Recording Location Company Alabamy Bound (Buddy De Sylva / Lew Brown / Ray Henderson) 11-23-1925 New York, New York Okeh 8262-A 73780-B

Find a short description of this band at Allmusic.com Title Recording Date Recording Location Company African Jungle (Spencer Williams) 4-15-1929 New York, New York Okeh

Andy Preer’s Cotton Club Orchestra was billed that way to promote Preer’s regular place of work. Actually, the group was the Missourians, who later teamed

This was a pseudonym, often used on Banner, and other Regal Record Company, Inc.-produced labels that were marketed & distributed by the Plaza Music Company.

Title Recording Date Recording Location Company Kansas City Man Blues (Clarence Williams / Clarence Johnson) 8-5-1923 New York, New York Okeh 4926-A Lady Luck Blues (William

Known for backing up Mamie Smith and her Jazz Band. Title Recording Date Recording Location Company Big Bad Bill (Jack Yellen / Milton Ager) New

Mamie Smith is backed up by Joseph Samuels’ Jazz Band on the recordings made between August and September of 1921. Title Recording Date Recording Location Company A Little

In 1919, African-American songwriter and pianist Perry Bradford was sure that there was a market for African-American music aimed at African-American consumers. He had a hard

Armand Piron’s New Orleans Orchestra was one of the most popular bands in New Orleans in the 1920s. They travelled to New York and played at

The rehearsals were held at Willie Santiago’s house in New Orleans. The finished cuts were recorded at WWL radio station, Roosevelt Hotel, in New Orleans.

Violinist Charles Elgar (June 13, 1879 – August 1973) left New Orleans in 1913 and moved to Chicago. He organized several bands that played in

Title Recording Date Recording Location Company Don’t Drink It In Here 3-21-1929 Chicago, Illinois Brunswick 7067 Get The “L” On Down The Road 3-21-1929 Chicago,

The Original Creole Orchestra (aka The Creole Band, Freddie Keppard’s Original Creole Orchestra) was the first New Orleans Jazz band to tour outside of the South. In

Title Recording Date Recording Location Company Salty Dog (Papa Charlie Jackson) 7-26-1926 Chicago, Illinois Paramount 12399-B 2653-1 Salty Dog (Papa Charlie Jackson) 7-26-1926 Chicago, Illinois

The Original Tuxedo Jazz Orchestra was named for Tuxedo Dance Hall in New Orleans. The band played there from 1910 to 1913, when the club

The Dixie Serenaders was the band that Sonny Clay assembled after he returned from Australia in 1928. Notes from the recording session indicate that the band was

Related to Sonny Clay. Title Recording Date Recording Location Company Down and Out Blues (Arthur Sizemore) 5-1925 Los Angeles, California Sunset 1099 Creole Blues (Charles

Sonny Clay’s Orchestra played Plantation Café in Culver City, California in the mid-1920s. The nightclub was located on Washington Boulevard, at Elenda Street, across the street

The California Poppies was a pseudonym for Sonny Clay’s Orchestra. Title Recording Date Recording Location Company Lou (Sonny Clay / Henry Walker) 1923 Los Angeles, California Sunset

Louis Armstrong and his Stompers only made this one record and it wasn’t released until 1942. This is the band that Louis played with at the Sunset Cafe

Title Recording Date Recording Location Company China Boy (Winfree / Boutelje) 10-11-1939 New York, New York Decca 18042 A Jazz Me Blues (Tom Delaney) 10-11-1939

Milenburg Joys features a rare vocal by Turk Savage with words added to the famous Jelly Roll Morton song by Walter Melrose. My Daddy Rocks Me is a typical blues

Bud Freeman: Profiles in Jazz Title Recording Date Recording Location Company Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man (from “Show Boat”) (Jerome Kern / Roger Hammerstein) 12-3-1928

The Fletcher Henderson Orchestra was the most popular African-American band of the 1920s. The smooth, carefully arranged sound of Henderson’s orchestra was a huge influence on the Swing style

Arthur Briggs was an African-American bandleader who worked primarily in Europe. He first came to Europe in 1919 with Will Marion Cook’s Southern Syncopated Orchestra

Main Red Hot Jazz Entry: Arthur Briggs’ Savoy Syncopators OrchestraAlso See: Better Days Will Come Again: The Life of Arthur Briggs Title Recording Date Recording

Title Recording Date Recording Location Company Crying My Blues Away (Alex Hill) 10-9-1928 Chicago, Illinois Vocalion 1218 Parkway Stomp With Skee Da Vocal (Albert Wynn

The music of the Hot Five and the Hot Seven is considered by most critics to be among the finest recordings in Jazz history. On November

Title Recording Date Recording Location Company After Twelve O’Clock (Joe Moore / Hoagy Carmichael) 9-1-1932 New York, New York Victor 24119 Bessie Couldn’t Help It (1) (Byron

Champion 15420-A was released under the pseudonym of Malcom Webb and his Gang. Title Recording Date Recording Location Company Beautiful 1-9-1928 Richmond, Indiana Gennett 6367

In this 1927 session, Hoagy Carmichael recorded the first version of his famous song “Stardust“. The song went on from these humble beginnings to be one of