One of the most significant trombonists in New Orleans during 1910-1920,
Kid Ory spent time in Los Angeles in the 1920s and then moved to Chicago in time to record with
King Oliver's Dixie Syncopators,
Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers, and
Johnny Dodds and
Louis Armstrong's
Hot Five. The 1930s were mostly spent outside of music due to the Depression and the change in the public's musical taste, but
Ory made a major comeback in 1944. At first he led a New Orleans band that played one number during each show in
Orson Welles' radio series, and then the group became a popular attraction.
Ory headed bands until the early '60s. In 1946, he was signed to
Columbia to record eight titles. Those numbers plus three alternate takes comprise the bulk of this CD. At the time
Ory was utilizing trumpeter
Mutt Carey (who had played with
Ory in the 1920s), a primitive but intriguing player. On the two versions of
"Tiger Rag" (particularly the earlier take),
Carey sounds very close to
Freddie Keppard, the pre-
King Oliver cornetist from New Orleans. His playing contrasts with that of the more swing-oriented solos of clarinetist
Barney Bigard. In addition to his percussive trombone,
Ory takes a pair of vocals and singer
Helen Andrews guests on
"Farewell to Storyville" and
"Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho." This CD also includes the 1949
Ory Creole Jazz Band's radio broadcast in the Jubilee series. The group, with trumpeter
Andrew Blakeney and clarinetist
Joe Darensbourg, romps on seven numbers including
"Savoy Blues," "12th Street Rag," and
"Original Dixieland One Step." New Orleans jazz fans not already owning the
Columbia studio performances will definitely want to pick up this excellent collection. ~ Scott Yanow
