Original Memphis Five

The Original Memphis Five were a lively jazz ensemble that lit up the 1920s recording scene, even though they never actually hailed from Memphis. This New York-based collective of session pros, featuring trumpeter Phil Napoleon, trombonist Miff Mole, clarinetist Jimmy Lytell, pianist Frank Signorelli, and drummer Jack Roth, became studio chameleons – cutting tracks under dozens of fake names for labels like Columbia and Pathe. Their recordings, including bouncy cuts like "Indiana Stomp" and "Bass Ale Blues," helped define the hot jazz sound that had speakeasies hopping, blending Dixieland pep with tight arrangements that showed off their killer musicianship.

Though they never achieved household-name status, these cats were everywhere in the ’20s – their 500+ recordings pop up under aliases like The Charleston Chasers or Bailey’s Lucky Seven. The group’s fluid lineup (with players like Red Nichols cycling through) kept their sound fresh through the transition into the swing era. Rediscovered by jazz historians, their work on rowdy dance numbers and bluesy instrumentals remains a time capsule of Prohibition-era energy, proving you don’t need fame to leave fingerprints on music history.

Genres

Ragtime

Latest Release

Pathe Instrtumentals (1922-1926)

Original Memphis Five

Album - 52 Tracks - Released June 4, 2007