Alert icon
We're changing our privacy policy. This stuff matters.  Learn more  Dismiss

1920s jazz - Frisco Jass Band - Edison Blue Amberol cylinder

Loading...

Sign in or sign up now!
Alert icon
Upgrade to the latest Flash Player for improved playback performance. Upgrade now or more info.
46,133
Loading...
Alert icon
Sign in or sign up now!
Alert icon

Uploaded by on Feb 20, 2008

This is another wild-and-woolly early jazz recording!

The Frisco Jass Band plays "Yah-De-Dah" on Edison Blue Amberol cylinder # 3337, issued in 1917---close enough to 1920's jazz to put it in that general realm.

The illustration, seen in the video from a 1921 Edison Blue Amberol catalog, shows the following as members
of the band:--Arnold Johnson, Piano... ..Buster Johnson, Trombone.....Rudy Wiedoeft , Clarinet.....Marco Woolf ,
Violin. I cannot identify the fellows playing the drums and banjo.

JUST NOTICED that the Blue Amberol literature obviously made an error as there's no vocal refrain by Irving Kauffman. AND, while no mention is made of Rudy's interweaving flights of fancy on the sax,
he surely comes through loud and clear!

In 1917 this band cut nine titles for Edison, all issued on Blue Amberol as well as Diamond Disc. It was among the
first to make records marketed as "jass." Jaudas' Society Orchestra was the only Edison group to make an earlier recording characterized as "jass."

The Frisco "Jass" Band was formed in early 1917 by Rudy Wiedoeft soon after he arrived in New York City. According to the July 1917 issue of Edison Amberola Monthly, the band "is now playing engagements at Montmartre, New York's famous midnight cafe, the
Winter Garden and the leading summer resorts near New York." Presumably the word Frisco was chosen to reflect that the musicians were from California.
Frisco.

The November 1917 issue of Edison Amberola Monthly promoted the December release of "Yah-De-Dah" on Blue
Amberol 3337 by stating,
"The utter abandon displayed by
a Jazz Band constitutes the greatest charm of this newest and smartest addition to modern dance music."

Other Edison promotional literature added, "No players ever before played like this; hear them once and the Frisco Jazz Band will have you fascinated for life. Incidentally you'll fox-trot as never before to this music."

(In late 1917 the company dropped quote marks from the band's name and, like other record manufacturers, switched from "Jass" to "Jazz.")

"Yah-De-Dah" was recorded on July 26, 1917, and issued on Blue Amberol months afterwards.

Category:

Music

Tags:

License:

Standard YouTube License

  • likes, 0 dislikes

Link to this comment:

Share to:

Uploader Comments (gmmix)

  • Jazz requires smoking weed. I don't care what anyone says. It makes it so much better, and it's how it was meant to be listened to and played.

    Bong and an old record (or cylinder!) player... the ladies love it, too.

  • @mollyjeorgensen - I'm taking your advice under consideration! Thanks for your comment. Stand back, ladies!

see all

All Comments (18)

Sign In or Sign Up now to post a comment!
  • @Jetluffyq8

    Me, too. However, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, Rihanna, and the like...including Jennifer Lopez and Rebecca Black...have been among the things in music since this century began. Weird, indeed. XD

  • @mollyjeorgensen

    Jazz requires a good time and a happy life. I'm pretty sure none smoked weed in the 1920s.

  • @brettsterz You're gay? Cool, good for you man, i guess....

  • GAY!!!!!!!!!!!

  • the jazz kinda gives you a deeper of just great music..it tells you of society was at that time through the wild, bouncy music. the piece is beautiful, but i keep thinking of the organizations when listening to this type of music

  • @cholocharile quality didn't get much better than this back then :p

  • i wish in this century songs would be more like this than weird songs (lady gaga)

  • Needs better quality. Awesome band though.

Loading...
Alert icon
0 / 00Unsaved Playlist Return to active list
    1. Your queue is empty. Add videos to your queue using this button:
      or sign in to load a different list.
    Loading...Loading...Saving...
    • Clear all videos from this list
    • Learn more