The Original Dixieland Jass Band initiated the jazz revolution when Columbia Records released the band's first recordings in April 1917. Comprised of white New Orleans musicians and led by Nick LaRocca, the band has often been maligned by jazz purists. And when compared with King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band, with Louis Armstrong, or with any of Armstrong's own groups, the Original Dixieland Jass Band does suffer. The music it played, however, was fresh and bright when compared with the popular music of the day, and the musicians in the group were more than competent in their performance.

Further Reading:

McDonough, Jack. "Jass Record #1: Original Dixieland Jazz Band. (75th Anniversary of First Commercial Jazz Record)." Down Beat. Vol. l59, No. 2, February, 1992, 26-28.