A ODJB e o primeiro disco de Jazz



A Original Dixieland Jazz Band (ODJB), formada por um grupo de músicos brancos de New Orleans - Dominic ("Nick") James LaRocca (corneta), Larry Shields (clarinete), Edwin ("Eddie") Branford Edwards (trombone), Harry W. Ragas (piano) e Anthony ("Tony") Sbarbaro (bateria) - foi o primeiro grupo de jazz a gravar um disco.

Esse facto histórico teve lugar em 26 de Fevereiro de 1917 (ano da foto acima), quando a ODBJ, sob a liderança de Nick LaRocca, colocou em disco os novos sons do jazz sob a forma de dois temas: "Dixieland Jass Band One-Step" e "Livery Stable Blues" (18255).

Este disco (foto abaixo) foi gravado para a Victor Talking Machine Company e colocado à venda em Março de 1917.



Passados dois anos, a ODJB atravessou o atlântico e actuou pela primeira vez na Europa, em Londres (foto abaixo).



Este evento foi publicitado (ver cartaz abaixo), mas a crítica musical da época foi demolidora, tal como seria em Portugal com as primeiras jazz-bands que por cá tocaram.



Actualmente a continuidade da ODJB é assegurada por Jimmy LaRocca, filho de Nick LaRocca, continuando a actuar, nomeadamente na Europa.



Já agora aqui ficam alguns factos importantes sobre a ODJB:

Founded in 1916. Mr. D.J. "Nick" LaRocca = Leader.

FIRST ever jazz record made by this band for both Columbia and Victor Records in 1917.

RESPONSIBLE for securing the name "jazz" (music style name) as we know it today.
In 1917 the ODJB was responsible for securing the word JAZZ as a musical definition term. Prior to the ODJB recording the music of the time was known as Ragtime and many other style names but not jazz. There were three or four other groups that used the name jass within their band name dating back to 1914, but the term was used more in general language slang and was not used to describe a musical style until the ODJB secured it with their hit recording in 1917.

FIRST jazz band to sell over 1 million Victrola records worldwide within the year of its release.

-This event introduced millions of people worldwide to JAZZ for the very first time.-A popular but controversial jazz Series unfortunately contradicts itself between the documentary film and a published book version with two different sales figures. The facts are that Enrico Caruso, an Italian opera tenor, was the most popular recorded musician up to the ODJB recording in 1917. Enrico Caruso was known as the first million seller and in order for the ODJB to become more popular and outsell Mr. Caruso they had to sell more than a million copies.

FIRST jazz band to travel to Europe in 1919.

FIRST jazz band to appear in a motion picture. ("The Good For Nothing", 1917 Peerless Productions, Distributed by World Pictures, Directed by Carlyle Blackwell and Produced by William Brady.)

FIRST jazz band ever to perform for US servicemen during WWI.