Gordon looks into the work of Wilbur Sweatman, a seminal yet fairly obscure character in the history of jazz. Born near Kansas City in the late 19th century, Sweatman quickly became a virtuosic clarinetist capable of playing in a variety of styles including ragtime and classical among others. In the early 20th Century, Sweatman started his career as a Vaudeville performer, a move which would help him gain notariaty but also cause him to be panned by most jazz historians. In 1916, Sweatman makes what Dr. Vernick considers the first jazz recording in history, coming almost a year before Original Dixieland Jazz Band’s famous recording for Victor Records in 1917.

By the early 1920s, Sweatman escaped the Vaudeville life that had held him back from being a serious musician and began making a string of legendary recordings with the Columbia label with his Original Jazz Band. However, these recordings would be the last important recordings Sweatman would make as popular music made the switch from Dixieland to Big Band Jazz.

Jazz Insights - Wilbur Sweatman - Part 1 - The Vaudeville Years
Jazz Insights - Wilbur Sweatman - Part 2 - Serious Artist