Kid Ory's Band
In 1921, Zion, Illinois banned jazz performances. They claimed that these performances were “sinful” and that they damaged the youth of the area. The idea of jazz being sinful was echoed throughout the nation. Most parents would discourage their children from listening to this music. They believed that it inspired sexual feelings through dancing and other forms of expressing the body.
In 1922, Trombonist Kid Ory's band, based in Los Angeles, made the first recordings by a black ensemble playing in the New Orleans style of jazz. This took a large leap forward in the march against racism in the United States because Jazz music was now not only just a southern United States thing, but something anyone anywhere could listen to or connect with.
Jazz also did wonderful things for women in society. In 1923, Bessie Smith released Down-hearted Blues, her first-ever recording that sold millions of copies in six months.
One of the most popular jazz musicians, Duke Ellington, made his debut in 1924 as the leader of the Washingtonians.
Forming a band was a large feat for many jazz artists and determined their reputation in the musical community. Armstrong, Ellington, and Smith all moved between many bands to increase their following and to gain more experience with perhaps better musicians.
Electrical Recording in 1925
In 1925, electrical recordings were introduced into the music world. This new technology delivered higher volume, a wider range of frequency, and a more accurate form of studio ambiance than the best acoustical phonographs and records. For the first time, listeners of the jazz era were hearing music with a high degree of accuracy and performed without sonic contortions required by the acoustic recording process.
Ma Rainey Georgia Jazz Band