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The Superior Rag

The Superior Rag

By Andrew Oliver

Pianist and vintage jazz expert Andrew Oliver presents a podcast about 1920s and 30s jazz, blues, stomp, and swing featuring stories, old records, history, interviews, live performances and more. A conversational and wide-ranging look at vintage American music.

Full episodes the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month, plus a "record of the week" each Friday from Andrew's 78 collection!

www.andrewoliver.net
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Currently playing episode

Friday ROTW #3 - "Mamanita" by Jelly Roll Morton

The Superior RagMar 27, 2020

00:00
04:47
Ep#4 - Jonathan Holmes' 1920s-30s British Jazz 78s
May 06, 202053:58
Friday ROTW #8 (with Jonathan Holmes) - "Tweet Tweet" by Fred Elizalde and his Music

Friday ROTW #8 (with Jonathan Holmes) - "Tweet Tweet" by Fred Elizalde and his Music

British record collector Jonathan Holmes brings us a great track from Fred Elizalde from 1927 in London!

May 01, 202004:29
Friday ROTW #7 (with Colin Hancock) - "Lazy Mama" by Clarence Williams' Orchestra

Friday ROTW #7 (with Colin Hancock) - "Lazy Mama" by Clarence Williams' Orchestra

Colin Hancock joines us once again from Austin to tell us about one of his favorite tracks from the huge discography of Clarence Williams, "Lazy Mama"!

Apr 25, 202005:28
Friday ROTW #6 - "My Baby" by Jimmy Blythe's Washboard Wizards

Friday ROTW #6 - "My Baby" by Jimmy Blythe's Washboard Wizards

This week we bring you some stomping washboard from Chicago in 1928 for today's side of the week, featuring the great Johnny Dodds on clarinet.

Apr 17, 202004:16
Ep#3 - Lil Hardin Armstrong's piano playing

Ep#3 - Lil Hardin Armstrong's piano playing

Today we check out the driving and bluesy piano playing of Lillian Hardin Armstrong, who is primarily remembered for her important role in kickstarting Louis Armstrong's career during their 15 year marriage in the mid-20s.  However, she was also a fantastic and skilled pianist in her own right.  On this episode, we take a listen to the great stomping qualities of her playing, the engine behind the King Oliver Creole Jazz Band, Louis Armstrong' Hot 5, and many of Johnny Dodds' greatest records, as well as her rare solo moments in these ensembles and spotlight her high quality musicianship and pianism.

Apr 15, 202043:50
Friday ROTW #5 - "Chicago Blues" by Jimmy Johnson's Orchestra

Friday ROTW #5 - "Chicago Blues" by Jimmy Johnson's Orchestra

This week's record features the Harlem stride master James P. Johnson in a band setting with his star pupil Fats Waller on the same piano, and an 18 year old Cootie Williams on trumpet!

Apr 10, 202005:00
Friday ROTW #4 (with Colin Hancock) - "Ain't Love Grand" by John Hyman's Bayou Stompers

Friday ROTW #4 (with Colin Hancock) - "Ain't Love Grand" by John Hyman's Bayou Stompers

Multi-instrumentalist Colin Hancock shares his pick for this Friday's "Side of the Week", "Ain't Love Grand" by John Hyman's Bayou Stompers from New Orleans.

Apr 04, 202005:27
Ep#2 - Nicholas D. Ball from drumsinthetwenties.com on Stan King, Jasper Taylor, and Vic Berton

Ep#2 - Nicholas D. Ball from drumsinthetwenties.com on Stan King, Jasper Taylor, and Vic Berton

Drummer and vintage drumming expert Nicholas D. Ball from London joines Andrew for an interview about his website drumsinthetwenties.com and three of his favorite underrated drummers of the era: Stan King, Jasper Taylor, and Vic Berton.

Apr 01, 202055:24
Friday ROTW #3 - "Mamanita" by Jelly Roll Morton

Friday ROTW #3 - "Mamanita" by Jelly Roll Morton

This week's "Record of the Week" features one of the great New Orleans pioneer Jelly Roll Morton's finest "Spanish Tinge" tunes, in a classic 1923 performance.

Mar 27, 202004:47
Friday ROTW #2 - "Tell Me Who" by the Halfway House Orchestra

Friday ROTW #2 - "Tell Me Who" by the Halfway House Orchestra

This week's "Record of the week" features the Halfway House Orchestra, one of the many great bands who stayed in New Orleans in the 1920s, playing one of their own tunes, "Tell me Who"

Mar 20, 202005:42
Ep#1 - Earl Hines plays 2 pop tunes in 1932

Ep#1 - Earl Hines plays 2 pop tunes in 1932

On this episode we check out Earl Hines' wild 1932 piano solos of "Love me Tonight" and "Down Among the Sheltering Palms", where he shows his forward-thinking improvisational skills applied to a couple of otherwise mediocre pop tunes, transforming them into great jazz piano workouts!  We'll hear the contemporaneous pop versions by Bing Crosby, Mildred Bailey and the Boswell Sisters and then hear several takes of Hines' versions, allowing us a glimpse into his music making process, and lots of amazing piano playing!  

Mar 18, 202033:53
Friday ROTW #1 - "Missouri Wobble" by Bennie Moten

Friday ROTW #1 - "Missouri Wobble" by Bennie Moten

This week's "Record of the week" features the great Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra from 1926.  Happy weekend!

Mar 13, 202005:00
The Superior Rag Preview

The Superior Rag Preview

Pianist and traditional jazz expert Andrew Oliver presents a new podcast about vintage jazz, with history, 78rpm records, stories, interviews, live performances and a "record of the week" each Friday!  Here's a preview with some background and a taste of what's on the way.  Full episodes first and third Wednesday of the month starting soon!

Mar 10, 202008:36