It’s a matter of debate whether the “founding father” of jazz was Jelly Roll Morton or Joe ‘King’ Oliver, but, as this 5 disc anthology shows, the latter not only released an impressive amount of improvisational material, but he was the first band that had Louis Armstrong in its midst. Without a doubt, Oliver (1881-1938) was considered THE soloist of his time, and an obvious inspiration to Armstrong, since the latter not only copied Oliver’s solos, but used them as templates for his own later work.
The famous front line of Oliver with Armstrong on cornet (along with Johnny Dodds/cl and Baby Dodds/dr can be heard on timeless material like “Dipper Mouth Blues”, ‘Weatherbird Rag” (later copied by Armstrong and Earl Hines) and “Mandy Lee Blues”. His “Dippermouth Blues” later became a hit for Fletcher Henderson’s Orchestra as “Sugarfoot Stomp” with Armstrong’s solo copied note for note. Lil Armstrong later comes on as pianistfor “Where Did You Stay Last Night”, and swing fans will recognize “Camp Meeting Blues” .
Oliver then does some wonderful duets with Jelly Roll Morton on the prototypical ‘King Port Stomp” and “Tom Cat Blues”. Sippie Wallace sings the blues with Oliver and Hershal Thomas/p on “Every Dog Has His Day”, with Ida Cox belting it out in a trio setting with Oliver and Jesse Crump/org on an earthy “Ramblng Blues”. Oliver’s Jazz Band , which included stars Kid Ory/tb, Albert Nicholas/cl, Barney Bigard/cl, and Luis Russell/p do the two step on hot pieces like “nag It” and “Jackass Blues”. Pre-swing tunes like “New Wang Wang Blues”, “Farewell Blues”, “Someday Sweetheart” and “Every Tub” may sound a bit stiff by today’s ears, but in 1927 this is as wild as one could legally get. Oliver does a deep read of “Aunt Hagar’s Blues” and joins in with pianist Clarence Williams on “Organ Grinder Blues”, “Lonesome Lovesick Blues” and “Do It Baby”. His later years have him leading a band that included the treat Henry “Red” Allen and future Ellingtonian Bubber Miley on “St. James Infirmary” and “When You’re Smiling”, while future Basie-ite Benny Morton/tb hits hard on “Sugar Blues”. The enclosed booklet gives a background to this man that, though dying poor, created a wake of horn players that even to this day owe a debt to him.