This excellent New Orleans jazz quintet was founded in 1917 by pianist Frank Signorelli and trumpeter Phil Napoleon. They released a lot of records from 1921-1931 under various names, such as Ladd’s Black Aces or Carolina Cotton Pickers. In the beginning, Napoleon, trombonist Miff Mole, clarinetist Jimmy Lytell and drummer Jack Roth were all regulars. However, the lineup changed quite frequently starting in 1926 with Red Nichols, Ray Bauduc, Mole and Tommy Dorsey appearing during one session each in 1928, 1929 and 1931. The Original Memphis Five’s music is melodic, jazz-oriented, and swinging. Unfortunately, not all of their hundreds of recordings has been reissued on CD. Allmusic
