Kid Ory
MUSKRAT RAMBLE
Trombonist Kid Ory was one of the original members of the Louis Armstrong Hot Five, for which this track was written by Ory in 1926. He is attributed with helping to develop the style of tailgate trombone so associated with traditional jazz, with his use of slides, growls, and counter lines under Armstrong’s melodies. Before joining the Hot Five, Ory was a celebrated bandleader in New Orleans as well as Los Angeles, making a landmark series of recordings for the Sunshine Record label in 1921. Ory would become the first African-American artist from New Orleans to record traditional jazz in Los Angeles.
By the time Ory moved to Chicago in 1925, it wasn’t long before he reunited with Armstrong whom had worked for him when Ory was a bandleader back in New Orleans. The 1926 recording of “Muskrat Ramble” is significant because it was the first recorded version of a number that would soon become a staple in the traditional jazz canon, one of Ory’s enduring legacies.
As a soloist, Ory doesn't venture far beyond the basic chord tones and arpeggios of the changes. He sticks to a consistent pattern in contrast to Armstrong and Dodds’ more open approach:
Ory’s phrasing and timing is right in the pocket. His bounce and hard swing made him an outstanding complement for Armstrong’s ensemble and helped to shape some of the most important recordings in American music.