Artist: Original Dixieland Jazz Band
Author: Nick La Rocca
Label: Victor
Year: 1918

First jazzband to record. The song that put jazz on the map, with 'author' Nick LaRocca on cornet (see footnote). Being a white band, the ODJB wasn't considered a real jazz band, but its impact matched Elvis's and wasn't he white either? The opening notes to Nick's key composition adorned the front door of his house in New Orleans (2216, Constance Street). Then came Katrina and the wave.

Tigers claw, like in the wild piano climax that made this piece so popular among young New Orleans dancers a century ago. Jelly Roll Morton claims authorship for that particular piano riff, executed with his elbow. This clawing passage is played on trombone in classic trad-jazz bands. Jelly Roll being the son of a trombone player makes his authorship statement over this Dixieland classic at least considerable. Those so-called Original Dixieland Jazz Band guys were just slick enough to force themselves an easier access in an all-white New York studio environment.