The first great trombonist in jazz history, Kid Ory's roots as a player stretch all the way back to the music's inception. His first band was formed in 1912, and it quickly became one of the most popular in New Orleans, featuring such greats as King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, Johnny Dodds, and Sidney Bechet. His 1922 recording sessions were the first by an all-black group. A break in the '30s to work on his brother's chicken farm was followed by a return to musical prominence in the '40s. Having lost none of its vigor or expressiveness, Kid Ory's Creole Jazz Band became a treasure of the traditional-jazz revival.