King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band was one of the preeminent ensembles in the early history of jazz, playing a pivotal role in the spread and popularization of the genre during the 1920s. Formed and led by cornetist Joe "King" Oliver, the band was a cradle of talent that introduced legendary musicians such as Louis Armstrong, who was a protégé of Oliver. The Creole Jazz Band was based in Chicago, where they secured a solid following with their residency at the Lincoln Gardens (initially called the Royal Gardens). Their distinct style exemplified the New Orleans jazz sound, with complex polyphonic expressions, and served as a foundation for many future jazz styles.

King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band is widely heralded for both their live performances and their recordings, which captured the spirit of the Roaring Twenties and placed them amongst the era's most influential jazz collectives. Featuring a lineup of skilled instrumentalists, including Oliver on the cornet, Armstrong on second cornet, Johnny Dodds on clarinet, Lil Hardin (who later became Lil Hardin Armstrong) on piano, and others, the band created lasting classics with cuts like "The World's Jazz Crazy," "Dipper Mouth Blues," and "Working Man's Blues." Those records, particularly from their prolific 1923 sessions, remain fundamental to the jazz canon, illustrating the raw and invigorating sound that King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band brought to audiences at a time when jazz was beginning to captivate the nation.

Genres

Big Band

Dixieland

Hot Jazz

Swing

Vintage Jazz

Latest Release

The World's Jazz Crazy

King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band

Album - 10 Tracks - Released October 28, 2016