"Some of These Days" Original Dixieland Jazz Band (Okeh, 1923)

Nick LaRocca, c, dir: Eddie Edwards, tb / Artie Seaberg, cl / Don Parker, as / Henry Vanicelli, p / Tony Sbarbaro, d.
General Phonograph Corp. Studios
New York, NY 3 Jan. 1923.
71043-F “Some Of These Days” (Shelton Brooks) OK 4738
Transferred with 3.0ML lateral stylus via 3.0ML VM95SP cartridge and an Audiotechnica AT-LP120 Turntable. Declicked and given light EQ by Colin Hancock. Disc from Colin Hancock Collection. Discographical Information from Rust’s “Jazz Records,” DAHR, H. O. Brunn’s “The Story of the Original Dixieland Jazz Band,”and Colin Hancock. Images from Louisiana Digital Archive and Colin Hancock Collection.
In late 1922, Nick LaRocca signed a contract with J. J. Robins to help the band land a new record deal since their contract with Victor had ended the previous year. Robins engaged the band with the General Phonograph Corporation, makers of Okeh Records, to capture the band in its most up to date iteration. With clarinetist Larry Shields gone to California to be with his wife, and pianist Frank Signorelli with the Original Memphis Five, only LaRocca, Edwards, and Sbarbaro remained from the original lineup, with clarinetist Artie Seaberg and pianist Henry Vanicelli filling the roles of the other musicians. LaRocca also engaged the talents of the great alto saxophonist Don Parker, formerly of the Vernon Country Club Band and now leading his own popular trio which included the great Nick Lucas on banjo and guitar, and a larger band named the “Western Melody Boys.” This group’s name was possibly a nod to McMurray’s California Thumpers given the presence of several “Thumpers” on the first session by that band including McMurray himself. Thus, Parker was right at home working in the context of the ODJB.
The second issued title by the band from these recordings is their timeless rendition of “Some of These Days.” Though the original and 1926 remakes by Sophie Tucker may be the most well known, the ODJB rendition, particularly the breaks by Eddie Edwards utilizing a modified kazoo mute.