King Oliver

I always liked the 20s; not that I would like to live in those times but it had a very interesting setting. It seems to me those years were during the end of the old world and at the beginning of the new world. Everything was changing and so did the music. To experience those hectic nights at the brothels filled with unique and new music (along with the whores) at the time would be (and most likely was) fascinating. It was jazz at its early stage. Not yet swing but not anymore simple merrier versions of marching songs. People called it ragtime. Sadly you can rarely hear this kind of music live but lucky for us there are plenty of recordings around left for us to experience it at least with our ears.

King Oliver and his troupe were active mainly in Chicago and he gathered quite an interesting lineup during the heyday of ragtime. His band was the place where young Louis Armstrong really learned how to play and it's from there that he evolved to be such a great musician. Another interesting fact is that Armstrong's then wife also played with them on the piano which was somewhat weird since females didn't play that much in bands during those days.


I've uploaded several of the bands that King Oliver led and sorted them chronologically but all of these bands were led by Oliver so they do tend to sound similar. If you enjoy this kind of music you really should get this. This is also a very good starting point for those who are interested in this period of American music. These guys/gals played like there's no tomorrow, all fired up and melodic this is probably one of the best early jazz recording in my opinion.


King Oliver And His Creole Jazz Band (1923)
King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band (1923-26)
King Oliver And His Dixie Syncopators (1926-28)
King Oliver And His Orchestra (1928-30)

Here's a few youtube samples:

West End Blues
High Society
Riverside Blues