The Original Indiana Five

The Original Indiana Five is so-named after the example set by the Memphis Five and other Dixieland-styled groups of the early '20s. Neither the band nor its members were from the state of Indiana; it appears that the group was initially formed in Pennsylvania sometime before 1923. After that time, the Original Indiana Five were based in New York City. Their first recording session was held in Long Island City for the tiny Olympic label in April 1923 under the name the Original Indiana Syncopators. At this point the leader of the band was pianist Newman Fier, with trumpeter J...