Happy Birthday, King Oliver

Joe "King" Oliver (1885-1938) was born on May 11, 1885, in Aben, Louisiana. Oliver played cornet in New Orleans brass bands and dance bands before forming his own group, which included talents like Kid Ory, Baby Dodds, Johnny Dodds, Lil Hardin, and Louis Armstrong, who once said that "if it had not been for Joe Oliver, jazz would not be what it is today."

Oliver was also a well-known composer, and his tunes include "Dipper Mouth Blues", "Sweet Like This", "Canal Street Blues", and "Doctor Jazz."

In his 101 Best Jazz Albums, Lyons recommends the album, King Oliver's Jazz Band, 1923 (Smithsonian). That album is not available in CD or MP3 format but is occasionally available in vinyl at Amazon.com.

Jim Determan recommends the following alternatives on CD. He calls the Retrieval CD "the definitive reissue." He also lists the Milestone CD below, although he adds that the "only reason to pick up this set is for the seven interesting tracks by The Red Onion Jazz Babies, featuring Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, and Alberta Hunter; or if you can't find the Retrieval set."

• King Oliver: King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band: The Complete Set (Retrieval), available from Amazon.com.
• King Oliver: Louis Armstrong with King Oliver (Milestone), available from Amazon.com.

Oliver's band plays one of his compositions, "Canal Street Blues," here:

Robert
http://www.facebook.com/corejazz?sk=wall

RIP, King Oliver (1885-1938)

Joe "King" Oliver died on April 10, 1938, in Savannah, Georgia. The mentor and teacher of Louis Armstrong died in poverty at the age of 52, having lost his life savings in the Great Depression. Oliver spent his last years working as a janitor and managing a pool hall. He was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, New York.

Oliver played cornet in New Orleans brass bands and dance bands before forming his own group, which included talents like Kid Ory, Baby Dodds, Johnny Dodds, Lil Hardin, and Louis Armstrong, who once said that "if it had not been for Joe Oliver, jazz would not be what it is today."

In his 101 Best Jazz Albums, Lyons recommends the album, King Oliver's Jazz Band, 1923 (Smithsonian). Unfortunately, that album is not available in CD or MP3 format.

Jim Determan recommends the following alternatives on CD. He calls the Retrieval CD "the definitive reissue." He also lists the Milestone CD below, although he adds that the "only reason to pick up this set is for the seven interesting tracks by The Red Onion Jazz Babies, featuring Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, and Alberta Hunter; or if you can't find the Retrieval set."

• King Oliver: King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band: The Complete Set (Retrieval), available from Amazon.com.
  
• King Oliver: Louis Armstrong with King Oliver (Milestone), available from Amazon.com.
  

Oliver's band, including Armstrong (who plays the incredible solo intro), plays "West End Blues" here:

Robert
Facebook page

Happy Birthday, King Oliver

Joe "King" Oliver (1885-1938) was born on May 11, 1885, in Aben, Louisiana. Oliver played cornet in New Orleans brass bands and dance bands before forming his own group, which included talents like Kid Ory, Baby Dodds, Johnny Dodds, Lil Hardin, and Louis Armstrong, who once said that "if it had not been for Joe Oliver, jazz would not be what it is today."

Oliver was also a well-known composer, and his tunes include "Dipper Mouth Blues", "Sweet Like This", "Canal Street Blues", and "Doctor Jazz."

In his 101 Best Jazz Albums, Lyons recommends the album, King Oliver's Jazz Band, 1923 (Smithsonian). That album is not available in CD or MP3 format but is occasionally available in vinyl at Amazon.com.

Jim Determan recommends the following alternatives on CD. He calls the Retrieval CD "the definitive reissue." He also lists the Milestone CD below, although he adds that the "only reason to pick up this set is for the seven interesting tracks by The Red Onion Jazz Babies, featuring Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, and Alberta Hunter; or if you can't find the Retrieval set."

• King Oliver: King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band: The Complete Set (Retrieval), available from Amazon.com.
• King Oliver: Louis Armstrong with King Oliver (Milestone), available from Amazon.com.

Oliver's band plays one of his compositions, "Dipper Mouth Blues," here:

Robert
http://www.facebook.com/corejazz?sk=wall

RIP, King Oliver (1885-1938)

Joe "King" Oliver died on April 10, 1938, in Savannah, Georgia. The mentor and teacher of Louis Armstrong died in poverty at the age of 52, having lost his life savings in the Great Depression. Oliver spent his last years working as a janitor and managing a pool hall. He was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, New York.

Oliver played cornet in New Orleans brass bands and dance bands before forming his own group, which included talents like Kid Ory, Baby Dodds, Johnny Dodds, Lil Hardin, and Louis Armstrong, who once said that "if it had not been for Joe Oliver, jazz would not be what it is today."

In his 101 Best Jazz Albums, Lyons recommends the album, King Oliver's Jazz Band, 1923 (Smithsonian). Unfortunately, that album is not available in CD or MP3 format.

Jim Determan recommends the following alternatives on CD. He calls the Retrieval CD "the definitive reissue." He also lists the Milestone CD below, although he adds that the "only reason to pick up this set is for the seven interesting tracks by The Red Onion Jazz Babies, featuring Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, and Alberta Hunter; or if you can't find the Retrieval set."

• King Oliver: King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band: The Complete Set (Retrieval), available from Amazon.com.
  
• King Oliver: Louis Armstrong with King Oliver (Milestone), available from Amazon.com.
  

Oliver's band, including Armstrong (who plays the incredible solo intro), plays "West End Blues" here:

Robert
Facebook page

Recent Links :: 1 February 2014

Dave Brubeck: New Jazz United shared the Dave Brubeck song, "Unsquare Dance." (The song is available on the album, Dave Brubeck — Greatest Hits, which can be purchased from Amazon.com.)

Bill Evans: New Jazz United shared the Bill Evans song, "You Must Believe in Spring." (The song is available on the album, You Must Believe in Spring, which can be purchased from Amazon.com.)

King Oliver: According to All About Jazz, Riverwalk Jazz broadcast an encore presentation featuring theater legend William Warfield, who brought King Oliver's correspondence to life in a 1992 performance.

McCoy Tyner: Talk About Jazz shared a clip of McCoy Tyner's "A Prayer for My Family." (The song is available on the album, Sahara, which can be purchased from Amazon.com.)

Betty Carter, Erroll Garner, Fletcher Henderson, James P. Johnson, Wes Montgomery: JazzTimes announced that Jazz at Lincoln Center is soliciting votes from fans in its annual Jazz Hall of Fame induction. Nominees include:

• Betty Carter
• Erroll Garner
• Fletcher Henderson
• James P. Johnson
• Wes Montgomery

Robert
Facebook page

Happy Birthday, King Oliver

Joe "King" Oliver (1885-1938) was born on May 11, 1885, in Aben, Louisiana. Oliver played cornet in New Orleans brass bands and dance bands before forming his own group, which included talents like Kid Ory, Baby Dodds, Johnny Dodds, Lil Hardin, and Louis Armstrong, who once said that "if it had not been for Joe Oliver, jazz would not be what it is today."

Oliver was also a well-known composer, and his tunes include "Dipper Mouth Blues", "Sweet Like This", "Canal Street Blues", and "Doctor Jazz."

Oliver's band plays one of his compositions, "Dipper Mouth Blues," here:

In his 101 Best Jazz Albums, Lyons recommends the album, King Oliver's Jazz Band, 1923 (Smithsonian). Unfortunately, that album is not available in CD or MP3 format.

Jim Determan recommends the following alternatives on CD. He calls the Retrieval CD "the definitive reissue." He also lists the Milestone CD below, although he adds that the "only reason to pick up this set is for the seven interesting tracks by The Red Onion Jazz Babies, featuring Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, and Alberta Hunter; or if you can't find the Retrieval set."

• King Oliver: King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band: The Complete Set (Retrieval), available from Amazon.com.
• King Oliver: Louis Armstrong with King Oliver (Milestone), available from Amazon.com.

Robert
http://www.facebook.com/corejazz?sk=wall

RIP, King Oliver (1885-1938)

Joe "King" Oliver died on April 10, 1938, in Savannah, Georgia. The mentor and teacher of Louis Armstrong died in poverty at the age of 52, having lost his life savings in the Great Depression. Oliver spent his last years working as a janitor and managing a pool hall. He was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, New York.

Oliver played cornet in New Orleans brass bands and dance bands before forming his own group, which included talents like Kid Ory, Baby Dodds, Johnny Dodds, Lil Hardin, and Louis Armstrong, who once said that "if it had not been for Joe Oliver, jazz would not be what it is today."

In his 101 Best Jazz Albums, Lyons recommends the album, King Oliver's Jazz Band, 1923 (Smithsonian). Unfortunately, that album is not available in CD or MP3 format.

Jim Determan recommends the following alternatives on CD. He calls the Retrieval CD "the definitive reissue." He also lists the Milestone CD below, although he adds that the "only reason to pick up this set is for the seven interesting tracks by The Red Onion Jazz Babies, featuring Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, and Alberta Hunter; or if you can't find the Retrieval set."

• King Oliver: King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band: The Complete Set (Retrieval), available from Amazon.com.
  
• King Oliver: Louis Armstrong with King Oliver (Milestone), available from Amazon.com.
  

Oliver's band, including Armstrong (who plays the incredible solo intro), plays "West End Blues" here:

Robert
Facebook page

Recent Links :: 28 February 2013

• Louis Armstrong, King Oliver: Michael Steinman speculates on how King Oliver's pyorrhea played a role in Louis Armstrong's career at Jazz Lives.
• John Coltrane: New Jazz United shares a clip of Kenny Burrell and John Coltrane performing "Why Was I Born?" (The piece is on the album, Kenny Burrell & John Coltrane, which can be purchased from Amazon.com.)
• Miles Davis: New Jazz United shares a video of the Miles Davis Quintet playing "Freedom Jazz." (The song is from the album, Miles Smiles, which can be purchased from Amazon.com.)
• Duke Ellington: John Weatherman discusses Duke Ellington's album, Black, Brown & Beige, at the head in. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)
• Keith Jarrett: John Fordham reviews Keith Jarrett's February 2013 London concert at The Guardian.
• John McLaughlin: Nenad Georgievski reviews John McLaughlin & The 4th Dimension's album, Now Here This, at All About Jazz. (Purchase the album from Amazon.com.)

Robert
Facebook page

Happy Birthday, King Oliver

Joe "King" Oliver (1885-1938) was born on May 11, 1885, in Aben, Louisiana. Oliver played cornet in New Orleans brass bands and dance bands before forming his own group, which included talents like Kid Ory, Baby Dodds, Johnny Dodds, Lil Hardin, and Louis Armstrong, who once said that "if it had not been for Joe Oliver, jazz would not be what it is today."

Oliver was also a well-known composer, and his tunes include "Dipper Mouth Blues", "Sweet Like This", "Canal Street Blues", and "Doctor Jazz."

In his 101 Best Jazz Albums, Lyons recommends the album, King Oliver's Jazz Band, 1923 (Smithsonian). Unfortunately, that album is not available in CD or MP3 format.

Jim Determan recommends the following alternatives on CD. He calls the Retrieval CD "the definitive reissue." He also lists the Milestone CD below, although he adds that the "only reason to pick up this set is for the seven interesting tracks by The Red Onion Jazz Babies, featuring Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, and Alberta Hunter; or if you can't find the Retrieval set."

• King Oliver: King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band: The Complete Set (Retrieval), available from Amazon.com.
• King Oliver: Louis Armstrong with King Oliver (Milestone), available from Amazon.com.

Oliver's band plays one of his compositions, "Dipper Mouth Blues," here:

Robert
http://www.facebook.com/corejazz?sk=wall

RIP, King Oliver (1885-1938)

Joe "King" Oliver died on April 10, 1938, in Savannah, Georgia. The mentor and teacher of Louis Armstrong died in poverty at the age of 52, having lost his life savings in the Great Depression. Oliver spent his last years working as a janitor and managing a pool hall. He was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, New York.

Oliver played cornet in New Orleans brass bands and dance bands before forming his own group, which included talents like Kid Ory, Baby Dodds, Johnny Dodds, Lil Hardin, and Louis Armstrong, who once said that "if it had not been for Joe Oliver, jazz would not be what it is today."

In his 101 Best Jazz Albums, Lyons recommends the album, King Oliver's Jazz Band, 1923 (Smithsonian). Unfortunately, that album is not available in CD or MP3 format.

Jim Determan recommends the following alternatives on CD. He calls the Retrieval CD "the definitive reissue." He also lists the Milestone CD below, although he adds that the "only reason to pick up this set is for the seven interesting tracks by The Red Onion Jazz Babies, featuring Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, and Alberta Hunter; or if you can't find the Retrieval set."

• King Oliver: King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band: The Complete Set (Retrieval), available from Amazon.com.
  
• King Oliver: Louis Armstrong with King Oliver (Milestone), available from Amazon.com.
  

Oliver's band, including Armstrong (who plays the incredible solo intro), plays "West End Blues" here:

Robert
http://www.facebook.com/corejazz?sk=wall