“Soudan” – Original Dixieland Jazz Band (1920)

In November of 1918, the Original Dixieland Jazz Band signed a contract with British producer Albert deCourville for a ten-week engagement at London’s Hippodrome that was to begin in March of 1919.

However, the virulent Influenza pandemic took the band’s pianist Henry Ragas just two days before the band was to set sail for the UK in February of 1919. Finding a replacement took an additional month, and the band finally boarded the R.M.S. Adriatic and by April 1, 1919, the ODJB arrived in Liverpool and began a 15 month stay.

They recorded 17 sides during their stay in the UK, all for Columbia. This disc, “Soudan” was from their last session – and was a tune taught to the band by Frank Hale of the Hale & Patterson team, who used it to accompany one of their oriental dance numbers..

Those used to ODJB’s Victor output might be taken aback by

Recorded in London, UK on May 14, 1920.
Released in the UK as Columbia 829.

Credits:
Nick LaRocca – cornet, director
Emile Christian – trombone
Larry Shields – clarinet
Billy Jones – piano
Tony Sbarbaro – drums

Sources:
Jazz and Ragtime Records (1897-1942), 6th Ed., Brian Rust
The Story of the Dixieland Jazz Band, H.O. Brunn