Kid Ory's Creole Jazz Band

Biography

Kid Ory’s Creole Jazz Band was led by Edward 'Kid' Ory, born December 25, 1886, in LaPlace, Louisiana. Ory began his musical journey on homemade instruments and banjo before switching to trombone, developing a distinctive 'tailgate' style characterized by staccato phrases, glissandos, and growls. He formed his first group, the Woodland Band, in his youth, performing at local dances and parades. Ory moved to New Orleans in 1910, quickly establishing himself as a leading bandleader and collaborating with future jazz luminaries.

In 1919, Ory relocated to California, forming Kid Ory’s Creole Orchestra, which became the first Black New Orleans jazz band to make a recording in 1922 with 'Ory’s Creole Trombone.' This recording is recognized as a milestone in jazz history and was later selected for the National Recording Registry. Ory’s band played a pivotal role in the New Orleans jazz revival of the 1940s, and he continued to perform and record with major figures such as Louis Armstrong, King Oliver, and Jelly Roll Morton. After a brief hiatus during the Great Depression, Ory returned to prominence as the leader of the band on 'The Orson Welles Almanac' radio show in 1944, cementing his legacy as a foundational figure in traditional jazz.

Ory’s musical style was rooted in the ensemble-driven, danceable rhythms of early New Orleans jazz, with a focus on dynamic interplay and blues-infused melodies. His innovations in trombone technique influenced generations of jazz musicians, and his leadership brought together some of the most important early jazz artists. Ory retired in 1966 but made a final appearance at the 1971 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival before passing away in 1973. His contributions are widely recognized as essential to the development and preservation of classic jazz.

Fun Facts

• Ory’s 1922 recording of 'Ory’s Creole Trombone' is considered the first jazz recording by a Black New Orleans band.
• He temporarily left music during the Great Depression to run a chicken farm in California.
• Ory was the bandleader for 'The Orson Welles Almanac' radio show in 1944, which helped spark the New Orleans jazz revival.
• He made his final public performance at the second New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in 1971.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Buddy Bolden - Offered Ory a job after being impressed by his playing during Ory's first visit to New Orleans in 1905; Bolden was a foundational influence on Ory's early musical direction. (Live performances, no recordings) [1905]

Key Collaborators

• Louis Armstrong - Ory gave Armstrong his first professional job; Armstrong later played in Ory's band and Ory recorded with Armstrong's Hot Five. (Louis Armstrong's Hot Five recordings) [1910s, 1920s]
• King Oliver - Oliver was Ory's cornetist in New Orleans; Ory later played with King Oliver's Dixie Syncopators in Chicago. (Live performances, King Oliver's Dixie Syncopators) [1910s, 1920s]
• Jelly Roll Morton - Collaborated on recordings and performances; Morton was both a peer and a musical influence. (Recordings and live performances) [1920s]
• Sidney Bechet - Bechet played clarinet in Ory's band during the New Orleans years. (Live performances) [1910s]
• Johnny Dodds - Dodds was clarinetist in Ory's New Orleans band and later collaborated in Chicago. (Live performances, recordings) [1910s, 1920s]
• Jimmie Noone - Noone played clarinet in Ory's band in New Orleans. (Live performances) [1910s]
• Mutt Carey - Cornetist in Ory's California bands and key member during early recordings. (Ory's Creole Trombone (1922), Ory's Sunshine Orchestra) [1919–1925]
• Ed Garland - Bassist in Ory's California bands, including the 1922 recording sessions. (Ory's Creole Trombone (1922), Ory's Sunshine Orchestra) [1919–1925]

Artists Influenced

• Louis Armstrong - Ory gave Armstrong his first professional job and mentored him in early jazz ensemble playing. (Louis Armstrong's Hot Five recordings) [1910s, 1920s]
• George Lewis - Clarinetist who played in Ory's band and later became a leader in the New Orleans jazz revival. (Live performances, New Orleans Revival recordings) [1940s]
• Countless traditional jazz trombonists - Ory's 'tailgate' trombone style became a model for subsequent generations. (N/A) [1920s–present]

Source: Wikipedia

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Savoy Blues (Kid Ory New Orleans Jazz Man)
2. Creole Song (Kid Ory New Orleans Jazz Man)
3. Ballin' The Jack (This Kid's The Greatest)
4. Careless Love (Kid Ory New Orleans Jazz Man)
5. Blues for Jimmy Noone (Kid Ory New Orleans Jazz Man)
6. By And By (The Legendary Kid)
7. Birth of the Blues (Kid Ory New Orleans Jazz Man)
8. Mahogany Hall Stomp (Kid Ory New Orleans Jazz Man)
9. Go Back Where You Stayed Last Night (Kid Ory New Orleans Jazz Man)
10. Yacka Hula Hickey Dula (Kid Ory New Orleans Jazz Man)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia