The California Ramblers

**The California Ramblers** were one of the hottest jazz acts of the 1920s, serving up peppy dance tunes and fiery improvisations that defined the era’s “hot jazz” craze. Despite their name, this New York-based ensemble became studio superstars, cutting hundreds of tracks under sneaky pseudonyms like The Golden Gate Orchestra and The Broadway Bell-Hops to dodge exclusive label contracts. Their recordings—including those iconic Edison Diamond Disc sessions from 1925-1928—bubbled with energy, featuring future legends like Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey (on trumpet and clarinet) and Adrian Rollini, whose bass sax and “hot fountain pen” solos became their signature sound.

Whether backing vocalists like Miss Annabelle Lee or tearing through instrumentals like “Jazz In A Vertical Groove,” the Ramblers’ loose, joyful style captured the Roaring Twenties’ spirit. While the original group dissolved by the 1930s, their vintage sides remain prized by jazz collectors, offering a fizzy time capsule of speakeasy-ready rhythms and pre-swing swagger. Just don’t let the “California” tag fool you—these cats were East Coast royalty!

Genres

Ragtime

Latest Release

Ramblin' On

The California Ramblers

Album - 12 Tracks - Released November 26, 2021