 probable 1 st jazz artist (“inventor of jazz”)  loudness of his playing  distinctive timbre and attack  “seductive” style of playing, particularly slow blues  no known recordings

 one of the 1 st New Orleans musicians to travel widely  star of the Creole Jazz Band (played vaudeville theaters throughout the US)  allegedly refused an opportunity to record in 1916

 played at Reisenweber’s Restaurant in New York in 1917 (probable 1 st jazz group to play extended engagement in New York)  “Livery Stable Blues” and “Dixie Jass Band One- Step” probable 1 st jazz recordings  relationship between white and black musicians

 1 st jazz composer – proved that the music could be written down  falsely claimed to have invented jazz  assimilated a number of musical styles  1923 recordings with Gennett Records in Richmond, IN (1 st integrated recording session)  fall 1926, Victor recordings with Red Hot Peppers  LC recordings with Alan Lomax (1938)  died in 1941 just before a revival of interest in NO jazz

 achieved local fame in band led by trombonist Kid Ory  particularly noted for variety of mutes  moved to Chicago in 1918; after time on the road, returned in 1922 to form King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band  1923 Gennett recordings introduced Louis Armstrong to the world

 clarinet, later soprano saxophone  toured with Will Marion Cook to Europe  tour Europe again on his own, returned to NY in 1921  hired briefly by Duke Ellington, but preferred soloist status  time spent in Europe may have contributed to relative lack of renown in US