#music, The First Jass* Recording – Dixieland!

Dixieland was a style of Jazz created in New Orleans at the start of the XX Century…

The Original Dixieland Jass Band arrived in New York City to play in Vaudeville shows. But they were offered an audition by the Columbia Gramophone Company, via a letter they received dated 29 JAN 1917. The recording session was on 31 JAN 1917, but no recording was issued.

Then the band went to the Victor Talking Machine Company and on 26 FEB 1917 recorded «Livery Stable Blues» and «Dixieland Jass Band One Step.» The songs were released in May 1917 making it the first Jazz record ever issued.

Although many were surprised, the recordings became a smash hit across the United States. The band became an instant success. They were led by Nick La Rocca, who played the cornet and stated that they were musical anarchists. He also said that «Jazz is the assassination of the melody…the slaying of syncopation.»

The song «Livery Stable Blues» was possibly written by Ray López and Alcides Nuñez in 1917, at least they owned the copyright.

* Before they settled on the current spelling Jazz.

Cheers…