The Original Dixieland Jazz Band was the first jazz group to record. Although their two earliest titles for Columbia ("Darktown Strutters Ball" and "Indiana") have not been reissued in a long time, all of the ODJB's output for Victor (including "Livery Stable Blues," the first jazz recording ever released) is on this definitive CD. This colorful group, which stuck exclusively to ensembles with no solos, introduced such standard tunes as "Original Dixieland One Step," "At the Jazz Band," "Fidgety Feet," "Sensation," "Clarinet Marmalade," "Margie," "Jazz Me Blues," "Royal Garden Blues," and "Tiger Rag," all of which are included on this release. It's an essential acquisition for any serious jazz library.

Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe, known professionally as Jelly Roll Morton, was an American ragtime and jazz pianist, bandleader, and composer. Morton was jazz's first arranger, proving that a genre rooted in improvisation could retain its essential characteristics when notated.

Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe, known professionally as Jelly Roll Morton, was an American ragtime and jazz pianist, bandleader, and composer. Morton was jazz's first arranger, proving that a genre rooted in improvisation could retain its essential characteristics when notated.

KID ORY - trombone
ALVIN ALCORN - trumpet
GEORGE PROBERT - clarinet
DON EWELL - piano
BILL NEWMAN - guitar
ED GARLAND - bass
MINOR HALL - drums