This is another wild-and-woolly early jazz recording!
The Frisco Jass Band plays "Yah-De-Dah" on Edison Blue Amberol cylinder # 3337, issued in 1917---close enough to 1920's jazz to put it in that general realm.
The illustration, seen in the video from a 1921 Edison Blue Amberol catalog, shows the following as members
of the band:--Arnold Johnson, Piano... ..Buster Johnson, Trombone.....Rudy Wiedoeft , Clarinet.....Marco Woolf ,
Violin. I cannot identify the fellows playing the drums and banjo.
JUST NOTICED that the Blue Amberol literature obviously made an error as there's no vocal refrain by Irving Kauffman. AND, while no mention is made of Rudy's interweaving flights of fancy on the sax,
he surely comes through loud and clear!
In 1917 this band cut nine titles for Edison, all issued on Blue Amberol as well as Diamond Disc. It was among the
first to make records marketed as "jass." Jaudas' Society Orchestra was the only Edison group to make an earlier recording characterized as "jass."
The Frisco "Jass" Band was formed in early 1917 by Rudy Wiedoeft soon after he arrived in New York City. According to the July 1917 issue of Edison Amberola Monthly, the band "is now playing engagements at Montmartre, New York's famous midnight cafe, the
Winter Garden and the leading summer resorts near New York." Presumably the word Frisco was chosen to reflect that the musicians were from California.
Frisco.
The November 1917 issue of Edison Amberola Monthly promoted the December release of "Yah-De-Dah" on Blue
Amberol 3337 by stating,
"The utter abandon displayed by
a Jazz Band constitutes the greatest charm of this newest and smartest addition to modern dance music."
Other Edison promotional literature added, "No players ever before played like this; hear them once and the Frisco Jazz Band will have you fascinated for life. Incidentally you'll fox-trot as never before to this music."
(In late 1917 the company dropped quote marks from the band's name and, like other record manufacturers, switched from "Jass" to "Jazz.")
"Yah-De-Dah" was recorded on July 26, 1917, and issued on Blue Amberol months afterwards.
Tags: gmmix fox trot Frisco Dixieland Jass Band jazz 1920s Edison Blue Amberol
