The Best of Dixieland Jazz

“Many bands here were led by musicians whose playing careers stretched way back before the formation of the ODJB…Dixieland jazz can be said to have originated in New Orleans in the early 1900’s when band members began to improvise or ‘jazz’ up a melody rather than play it ‘straight’ as in the score. Improvisation is by its very nature unique to each performer, but what separated the New Orleans players from others was that they improvised as an ensemble not as solo instrumentalists: as one player played the melody, others together improvised around it.” (James Murray)