Chimes Blues -- King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band

Chimes Blues -- King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band

April 6, 1923 was the first day that the band recorded some 9 tracks. It was in a studio in Richmond, Indiana.The Chimes blues is still played today by many jazz bands.
King Oliver cornet, Louis Armstrong cornet, Honore Dutray trombone, Johnny Dodds clarinet, Lil Hardin piano, Bill Johnson banjo and Baby Dodds drums.
This is a recording that should be in every serious jazz lover's collection.
p.s I recorded Chimes Blues with our Climax Jazz Band in 1996 in Japan with real Chimes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UT7enh5mUU

Category:

Music

Tags:

• jazz
• classic
• oliver
• armstrong
• dodds
• hardin

[Somerset45]

Never heard this one before-its "almost" as good as Oliver's Canal Street Blues-and that's tops!

[erwigaudio]

I found your videos as well. You posted some great stuff. Fuzzy Mabel by Morton is a collector's item.

I got intrigued by this Mabel Normand, Maybe i'll add some of her pictures to Oliver's  first Mabel's dream recorded October 1923. I posted the second already.

Take care

Bob

[goodfellacarlos89]

@RadioFreeWisconsin Bix and Bechet were amazing there is no doubt. Armstrong getting too much credit? comparing an alto sax/ clarinet player to a cornet player? different league there. As for Bix, his solos were much more melodic sure, but the technicality and power and soul that Armstrong brought to jazz and music in general automatically makes him the single most important figure in American Music. Besides this is Louis's first recording. Not a solo BTW.

[BobE1945]

When Joe and Louis first let rip in the studio they almost blew the acoustic recording apparatus up, so their next attempt at recording had them standing 20 feet away from the recording horn.

It was under this restriction that Louis recorded his first solo, exactly as it can be heard today, by anyone lucky enough to list to this gem of a record.

[masterch33z]

@bubblesandsea same here :P

[koeselitzzz]

Anybody who thinks this 'solo' is overrated should try playing that bit, and playing it with that timbre. If you can't play it, you can't run it down. And NOBODY can play it like Louis Armstrong can play it. Take it from me. I've tried. And this is just a tiny bit -- just an indication of the great things to come.

[eqwalker1]

@RadioFreeWisconsin

Maybe because it isn't a solo? Know your facts before making comments that in retrospect make you look stupid.

[DrummerAmericain]

Thanks for this post! I was just reading about this recording in a book called "Jazzmen" by Fredric Ramsy Jr. and Charles Edward Smith. Fred and Charles write that when they first tried to record, Louis and Joe nearly destroyed all the equipment! Finally, they solved the problem by moving the two powerhouses twenty feet away from the recording "horn" they were supposed to play into.

[Jrogerssr]

First heard this piece by the Dukes of Dixieland, post WW II. They used real chimes which makes it a different piece of music.

I am thrilled to find what I think is the original version. It has certainly has stood the test of time.

[RadioFreeWisconsin]

Armstrong's solo here is overrated. Bix and Bechet were recording much better solos at this exact some period. I think Armstrong gets too much credit for "inventing" the solo. Even the Original Dixieland Jazz Band had featured solos. Larry Shields' solo on St. Louis Blues is particularly interesting.