Dixieland

The Jazz Club series is an attractive addition to the Verve catalogue. With it's modern design and popular choice of repertoire, the Jazz Club is not only opened for Jazz fans, but for everyone that loves good music.

This French CD has 24 titles by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, partly duplicating some other sets (including the Bluebird release) but also includes a few real rarities. Among the latter are versions of "Darktown Strutters Ball" and "Indiana" that rank as the very first jazz records ever made; the liner notes claim that these are from a slightly later remake session (May 31, 1917) but logic and the esteemed discographer Brian Rust place them at January 30. Also quite rare are the four titles ("Some of These Days," "Toddlin' Blues," "Tiger Rag" and "Barnyard Blues") from the ODJB's final recording sessions in 1922-23 before their breakup and the group's 1917 Aeolian recordings which are joined by highlights from their better-known output for Victor. Fascinating early music by easily the best group on records during 1917-21.

If you like jazz, you might as well listen to this CD, and hear where it started. Okay, so it didn't exactly start here. The ODJB didn't invent jazz - no matter what their leader, cornetist Nick LaRocca, says. But they were the first to record jazz, and they had an incalcuable influence on a lot of what came afterwards, simply because they put their music down on wax. These early recordings have been put out many times by many different labels, but according to the Penguin Guide, this issue has the best sound…

Jazz Legends - Pete Daily, Firehouse Five Plus Two, Red Nichols And His Five Pennies.
These Snader Telescriptions are a collection of approx 3 minutes small films made in the 50s to fill gaps in the American TV programmes - shot from a spot in the studio, and in some cases, in a club or setting. These takes are superb with good sound quality.