Original Dixieland Jazz Band

The Original Dixieland Jazz Band (ODJB) was an American jazz group that rose to prominence in the early 20th century. They are credited with recording what is considered the first jazz record, "Livery Stable Blues," in 1917, which became a million-selling hit. The ODJB's style, often referred to as Dixieland, was characterized by technically proficient playing and incorporated elements of ragtime and marching band music, featuring trumpet, clarinet, and trombone as front-line instruments.1

Dixieland itself is a style of jazz, often associated with New Orleans and Chicago musicians. It is typically played in duple time by a small band and features both ensemble and solo improvisation. While the ODJB's recordings reflected a "white style" of jazz, the broader Dixieland tradition was also shaped by Black musicians in New Orleans, who incorporated more blues influences and emphasized group improvisation.12