Kid Ory

Kid Ory, born Edward Ory on Christmas Day in 1886, was a pioneering American jazz trombonist, composer, and bandleader who left an indelible mark on the early years of jazz. Hailing from a sugar plantation in LaPlace, Louisiana, Ory began his musical journey on homemade instruments before mastering the trombone, a switch from his initial banjo playing. He is celebrated as one of the earliest innovators of the glissando technique, which he helped establish as a cornerstone of New Orleans jazz. Ory's influential career spanned decades, shaping jazz from the 1920s onward. His composition "Ory's Creole Trombone," recorded in Los Angeles in 1921 or 1922, remains a testament to his musical genius. With a legacy that includes a vast collection of photographs, correspondence, sheet music, and instruments, Kid Ory's contributions continue to resonate with jazz enthusiasts worldwide.