This Is Jazz presents a trial preview tracing the origins of American jazz, hosted by Jack McGregor. The program moves through a series of scenes, beginning in New Orleans in 1870 with a street band marching down Rampart Street playing High Society. It then follows the music as ragtime pianists and dance bands develop it through the 1890s and 1910s, carried up the Mississippi by riverboat. By 1922 the story reaches Chicago, where young players adopt the New Orleans style and shape a rougher Chicago sound. The preview closes with a 1925 Broadway number by Fats Waller. The broadcast is a pilot that invites listener feedback on whether a full series should follow, with mail sent to the Mutual Broadcasting System.

With Jack McGregor, Chuck Kuckey, Harry Fromkies, Rudy Bletch, Ernest Kid Punch Miller, Maxie Kaminsky, Albert Nicholas, George Brunis.

Listen for: The street band playing High Society in 1870, the ragtime Tiger Rag, and the Chicago numbers of the 1920s, with narration that traces how jazz developed.

First aired on January 18, 1947.

Episode notes written with AI from the recording itself; the audio is the original broadcast.

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This Is Jazz is a half-hour program of live jazz improvised by a group of veteran musicians, introduced by writer and narrator Rudy Bletch. The episode, first broadcast on February 8, 1947, opens with a roll call of the players: cornetist Muggsy Spanier, clarinetist Albert Nicholas, trombonist George Brunies, guitarist Danny Barker, drummer Baby Dodds, pianist Lucky Roberts and bassist Cyrus St. Clair. The band performs the classic Muskrat Ramble, then a version of Tin Roof Blues sung by Brunies, and the program goes on to explain how improvisation differs from a printed score. Lucky Roberts then plays solo ragtime piano.

With Rudy Bletch, Muggsy Spanier, Albert Nicholas, George Brunies, Danny Barker, Baby Dodds, Lucky Roberts, Cyrus St. Clair.

Listen for: The band's improvised version of Muskrat Ramble and Lucky Roberts' slow solo piano performance, which he has recast under a different title.

First aired on February 8, 1947.

Episode notes written with AI from the recording itself; the audio is the original broadcast.

Free, complete and restored, no modern ads. A new episode every week: This Is Jazz on Stupid Potato, every episode so far and the episode guide.

Stupid Potato restores classic radio and TV audio and runs 60 free 24/7 channels and 188 podcasts: old-time radio westerns, detectives, comedy, science fiction and suspense, vintage TV, Saturday-morning cartoons, Halloween and Christmas. No modern ads. Listen free at stupidpotato.com.

This Is Jazz presents an improvised session with an all-star group of New Orleans and Chicago jazz musicians, introduced by narrator Rudy Blesh. Melody players Muggsy Spanier, George Brunies and Albert Nicholas join rhythm players Baby Dodds, Danny Barker, Joe Sullivan and Cyrus St. Clair in the studio. The program moves between live tunes, including Bugle Call Rag, with brief histories of the vaudeville circuit and the cafes where jazz was played. Vaudeville performers Grant and Wilson appear as guests, performing a comic routine, and the band later plays Royal Garden Blues and Eccentric Rag. The broadcast is aired on Mutual on February 15, 1947.

With Rudy Blesh, Muggsy Spanier, George Brunies, Albert Nicholas, Baby Dodds, Danny Barker, Joe Sullivan, Cyrus St. Clair.

Listen for: The live ensemble performances of Bugle Call Rag, Royal Garden Blues and Eccentric Rag, and the Grant and Wilson vaudeville routine.

First aired on February 15, 1947.

Episode notes written with AI from the recording itself; the audio is the original broadcast.

Free, complete and restored, no modern ads. A new episode every week: This Is Jazz on Stupid Potato, every episode so far and the episode guide.

Stupid Potato restores classic radio and TV audio and runs 60 free 24/7 channels and 188 podcasts: old-time radio westerns, detectives, comedy, science fiction and suspense, vintage TV, Saturday-morning cartoons, Halloween and Christmas. No modern ads. Listen free at stupidpotato.com.

This Is Jazz: “First Song - That's A Plenty”, first broadcast on March 1, 1947. Old-time radio music and variety.

Free, complete and restored, no modern ads. A new episode every week: This Is Jazz on Stupid Potato, every episode so far and the episode guide.

Stupid Potato restores classic radio and TV audio and runs 60 free 24/7 channels and 189 podcasts: old-time radio westerns, detectives, comedy, science fiction and suspense, vintage TV, Saturday-morning cartoons, Halloween and Christmas. No modern ads. Listen free at stupidpotato.com.

This Is Jazz: “First Song - At the Jazz Band Ball”, first broadcast on March 8, 1947. Old-time radio music and variety.

Free, complete and restored, no modern ads. A new episode every week: This Is Jazz on Stupid Potato, every episode so far and the episode guide.

Stupid Potato restores classic radio and TV audio and runs 62 free 24/7 channels and 191 podcasts: old-time radio westerns, detectives, comedy, science fiction and suspense, vintage TV, Saturday-morning cartoons, Halloween and Christmas. No modern ads. Listen free at stupidpotato.com.