Tiger Rag is a jazz standard that was recorded by the Original Dixieland Jass Band in 1917, The band did not use the "Jazz" spelling until later.
Tiger Rag is a jazz standard that was recorded by the Original Dixieland Jass Band in 1917, The band did not use the"Jazz" spelling until later. It is one of the most recorded jazz compositions. After the success of the Original Dixieland Jass Band recordings, the song gained national popularity. Dance band and march orchestrations were published for bands that had trouble playing jazz. Hundreds of recordings appeared in the late 1910s and through the 1920s. With the arrival of sound on films, it appeared on soundtracks to movies and cartoons when energetic music was needed. Tiger Rag had over 136 versions by 1942. Musicians who played and recorded it included Art Tatum, Benny Goodman, Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington, Bix Beiderbecke, and Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker even recorded a bebop version. During the early1930s Tiger Rag became a standard show off piece for big band arrangers and soloists here in the UK.
"This particular arrangement seeks to tell the story of this tune in New Orleans culture. Starting with a spiritual passage, it then moves through a more uplifting gospel mood, with a hint of what Jelly Roll Morton called the "Spanish Tinge". The piece bursts into life with a classic dixie style presentation concluding with a funkier edge in the manner of the present-day New Orleans brass bands.
Jock McKenzie studied trumpet at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester where he was a joint recipient of the college’s concerto prize. From 1987 Jock based his musical career in Hampshire, working as a freelance trumpeter, conductor, composer, arranger and brass teacher. Jock is a former Professional Leader (Brass) for Hampshire Music Service and was the Director of the Hampshire County Youth Band from 2004 until 2020. It is the mix of all of these musical roles that has led to Jock establishing a reputation as a leading creator of brass music resources, particularly in the field of education and brass ensemble music. In 2020 Jock was awarded an “Honorary Fellowship of the University of Winchester” for services to music education. Currently Jock is working part-time for the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama; providing tuition for their Brass Teaching Module. In 2024 Jock was given the award for “Services to Youth” by Brass Bands England.
