"In some bands da cornet played da melody. In some bands da clarinet played da melody. In our band nobody played da melody." So spoke Jimmy Durante (1893-1980) years later, a bit too modestly. Himself a Brooklynite by birth, he joined a group of New Orleans expatriates just after World War I to form a pioneering New York jazz band, which made its only record at the Gennett studio on Fifth Avenue.
The Original New Orleans Jazz Band: Frank Christian, cornet; Achille Baquet, clarinet; unknown trombone; Arnold Loyacano, drums; Jimmy Durante, piano.
New York NY 3/19 Gennett 4508
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