Jazz Musicians of the Early Years, to 1945

David Dicaire is the author of numerous works about music history. He lives in Leamington, Ontario, Canada.

Table of Contents



Introduction     



PART 1: THE NEW ORLEANS TRADITION     

Buddy Bolden (1877–1931) The Cornet Pioneer     

Nick LaRocca (1889–1961) The History Maker     

Joe “King” Oliver (1885–1938) Dippermouth Blues     

Kid Ory (1886–1973) Tailgate Trombone     

Freddie Keppard (1890–1933) The Second in Line     

Pops Foster (1892–1969) The Slap Rhythm Man     

Jelly Roll Morton (1890–1941) Red Hot Pepper Jazz     

Johnny Dodds (1892–1940) Weary Way Blues     

Sidney Bechet (1897–1959) Coal Cart Blues     

Zutty Singleton (1898–1975) A Monday Date     

Baby Dodds (1898–1959) The Great Anchor     



PART 2: THE JAZZ AGE     

James P. Johnson (1894–1955) The Stride King     

Jimmie Noone (1895–1944) Apex Blues     

Ethel Waters (1896–1977) Jazzin’ Babies Blues     

Fletcher Henderson (1897–1952) Smack’s Blues     

Louis Armstrong (1901–1971) The Fountainhead     

Eddie Lang (1902–1933) Hot Strings     

Bix Beiderbecke (1903–1931) Singin’ the Blues     

Earl Hines (1903–1983) Fatha’s Sound     

Fats Waller (1904–1943) Honeysuckle Rose     

Jack Teagarden (1905–1964) Prince of the Trombone     



PART 3: THE BIG BAND AND SWING ERA: THE BANDLEADERS    

Duke Ellington (1899–1974) Beyond Category     

Walter Page (1900–1957) The Blue Devil     

Jimmie Lunceford (1902–1947) Harlem Shout     

Glenn Miller (1904–1944) In the Mood     

Jimmy Dorsey (1904–1957) Blue Champagne Swing     

Count Basie (1904–1984) The Catalyst     

Tommy Dorsey (1905–1956) Clambake Seven     

Benny Goodman (1909–1986) Swing's the Thing     

Chick Webb (1909–1939) I Got Rhythm     

Artie Shaw (1910–) Blues in the Night     



PART 4: THE BIG BAND AND SWING ERA: THE MUSICIANS     

Coleman Hawkins (1904–1969) The Boss of the Tenor Saxophone     

Johnny Hodges (1906–1970) The Earl of Ellingtonia     

Benny Carter (1907–) Ridin’ in Rhythm     

Ben Webster (1909–1973) Cottontail Blues     

Lionel Hampton (1909–2002) The Jazz Ambassador     

Gene Krupa (1909–1973) Drum Boogie     

Lester Young (1909–1959) The Prez     

Roy Eldridge (1911–1989) Little Jazz     

Jo Jones (1911–1985) The Rhythm Maker     

Teddy Wilson (1912–1986) Limehouse Blues     

Jimmy Blanton (1918–1942) Mr. J.B.’s Blues     

Charlie Christian (1916–1942) Solo Flights     



PART FIVE. OTHER MAJOR FIGURES     

Scott Joplin (1868–1917) Maple Leaf Rag     

Eubie Blake (1883–1983) The Historian     

Don Redman (1900–1964) The Arranger     

Art Tatum (1909–1956) King of Jazz Piano     

Django Reinhardt (1910–1953) The Gypsy Soul     

Billie Holiday (1915–1959) The Voice of Jazz     

Ella Fitzgerald (1917–1996) Scat ’n’ Things     



Bibliography     

Index