A History of Jazz Podcast 1919: Original Dixieland Jazz Band
Dec 29, 2017
Dive into the fascinating journey of the Original Dixieland Jazz Band as they take jazz across the Atlantic! Discover how J. Russell Robinson stepped in after Henry Ragas’s untimely death. Hear about their tumultuous arrival in London, mixed reviews, and a surprising firing after a standing ovation. Experience their rise in Britain, from performances at the Palladium to a successful residency at Martin's. Plus, uncover the scandal that followed LaRocca and their eventual return to America. It's a lively tale of triumph and turmoil!
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Unexpected Pianist Replacement
- J. Russell Robinson joined the Original Dixieland Jazz Band after a tryout following Henry Ragas's death.
- Robinson had learned the band's records by playing along while touring silent films, so he knew their repertoire intimately.
First Widely Heard U.S. Jazz In Europe
- The Original Dixieland Jazz Band weren't the first jazz musicians in Europe, but they were the first widely popular, recognizable-jazz band from the U.S. to arrive.
- Their arrival significantly accelerated jazz's spread across Europe due to visibility and recordings.
Rocky London Arrival And Racist Messaging
- On arrival in London the band slept in chorus girls' dressing rooms and faced reporters asking about the word "jazz."
- The band responded with racist claims, saying the players were "all white as white as they can possibly be."