ORIGINAL TUXEDO JAZZ ORCHESTRA

Biography

The Original Tuxedo Jazz Orchestra was founded in 1910 by cornetist Oscar 'Papa' Celestin at the Tuxedo Dance Hall in Storyville, New Orleans' renowned red light district. Celestin's innovative leadership transformed the house band into what many acknowledged as New Orleans's best dance band, earning him recognition as a pioneering figure in early jazz history. The band's name variations included the Tuxedo Jazz Band, Tuxedo Jazz Orchestra, and Celestin's Original Tuxedo Orchestra, reflecting its evolution over more than a century of continuous performance.

Under Celestin's direction, the Tuxedo Jazz Orchestra became instrumental in shaping New Orleans jazz during the 1910s and 1920s. The band was among the first jazz ensembles to record in New Orleans and notably pioneered the regular employment of women as pianists, breaking significant barriers in the male-dominated jazz scene. The orchestra built a loyal following that transcended racial and ethnic boundaries through its infectious dance music, which appealed from the bottom of society to the top. In 1911, Celestin also founded the separate Tuxedo Brass Band, which became the busiest and most popular brass band in the city during the 1920s, known for seamlessly blending written arrangements with improvisation—a breakthrough in jazz development.

After declining fortunes during the Depression-era 1930s, the Original Tuxedo Jazz Orchestra experienced a remarkable renaissance during the post-World War II traditional jazz revival. In 1947, Celestin's band returned to the studio with recordings for Deluxe Records, becoming the most popular band in New Orleans by the early 1950s. On May 8, 1953, the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band achieved historic significance by becoming the first New Orleans jazz band to perform at the White House during the annual White House Correspondents' Association banquet, where President Dwight D. Eisenhower personally commended Celestin. The band's legacy continued beyond Celestin's death in 1954, with the ensemble continuing to perform into the 21st century as a living testament to early New Orleans jazz tradition.

Fun Facts

• In 1923, Louis Armstrong played one of his last New Orleans performances with the Tuxedo Brass Band on the same day he received Joe 'King' Oliver's telegram inviting him to Chicago—making the Tuxedo's members among the first to learn of Armstrong's historic move north.
• The Tuxedo Brass Band achieved a breakthrough in jazz history by being the first ensemble to successfully blend two previously separate traditions: playing from written musical scores and improvisation, fundamentally advancing the development of jazz as an art form.
• An estimated 10,000 people attended Papa Celestin's Canal Street funeral procession on December 15, 1954, with a 4,000-strong second line following 15 black limousines while the Eureka Brass Band and Tuxedo Brass Band members played 'Just a Closer Walk with Thee.'
• Papa Celestin reached the pinnacle of his career in his 1960s, achieving his greatest fame and recognition late in life, particularly after the 1953 White House performance where President Eisenhower praised him as 'a fine gentleman and a credit to your race and our country.'

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Joe 'King' Oliver - Oliver's influence on the New Orleans jazz scene and his connection to the Tuxedo Brass Band through Louis Armstrong's recruitment (Tuxedo Brass Band performances) [1923]

Key Collaborators

• Louis Armstrong - Armstrong played one of his last New Orleans gigs with the Tuxedo Brass Band in 1923, the same day he received Oliver's telegram to join him in Chicago (Tuxedo Brass Band performances) [1923]
• Albert 'Papa' French - Ran the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band for many years as Celestin's successor (Original Tuxedo Jazz Band leadership) [Post-Celestin era]
• Gerald French - Grandson of Albert 'Papa' French, continued the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band tradition (Original Tuxedo Jazz Band) [Contemporary era]

Artists Influenced

• New Orleans Jazz Revival Movement - The Tuxedo Jazz Orchestra became a cornerstone of the post-WWII traditional jazz revival, particularly on Bourbon Street in the late 1940s and early 1950s (Revival era performances and recordings) [1947-1950s]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Original Tuxedo Rag (Original Bugle Blues)
2. Black Rag (Jazz New Orleans 1918-1944)
3. Black Rag (The Very Best Of Jazz Sessions)
4. Careless Love (The Very Best Of Jazz Sessions)
5. Careless Love - Original (New Orleans - The Cradle Of Jazz CD1)
6. Original Tuxedo Rag (New Orleans in the '20s 1924-1925)
7. Careless Love (New Orleans in the '20s 1924-1925)
8. Black Rag (New Orleans in the '20s 1924-1925)
9. Original Tuxedo Rag (Classic Jazz- The World's Greatest Jazz Collection - From New Orleans to Harlem, Vol. 7)
10. Careless Love (Classic Jazz- The World's Greatest Jazz Collection - From New Orleans to Harlem, Vol. 7)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia