It is time for a classic. When you hear these guys, you will see that they could step right out of the 1920s and into the Economy Hall or Preservation Hall of today. That, kids, does not mean they are “old”: it means they are timeless. And they jam.

Here’s a little history describing where they played in the French Quarter back the early 1900s (from Edmond Souchon’s "King Oliver: A Very Personal Memoir," found in Robert Gottlieb's Reading Jazz):

The place was twice as long as it was wide. It was a one-story wooden frame building at sidewalk level, lengthwise parallel to the street. There was a bar at the Iberville end, and a sort of dance hall to the rear, nearer Canal Street. Quick glances through the swinging doors showed us that the inside was fairly well lighted. But outside the building there were many deep shadows, and the sputtering carbon arclight on the corner was out more than on. Gutters three feet wide and almost as deep ran alongside the sidewalk. A tall telegraph pole stood just in front of the dance hall, across the gutter. In its shadow we sought refuge until someone discovered us and told us to move on.

How about that? Music that is worth standing in the gutter to hear! And not just any gutter: “three feet wide and almost as deep”! The French Quarter has cleaned up a bit in the last 100 years. A bit, anyway.

We’ll offer two songs today. They are short, made for the 45. Again, kids will need that explained. You will see a picture of one during the first tune.

Also, both of the youtubers who posted these songs have plenty of others worth checking out.

The first one is about Canal St., but by this point King Joe had brought his band — and Louis Armstrong — to Chicago: "Canal Street Blues."

Then, behind the cut, another great one: “Too Late.”