The New Orleans Wanderers was the name under which Lil Hardin recorded with members of Louis Armstrong

Louis Armstrong

Louis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....

's Hot Five on a 1926 session for Columbia Records

Columbia Records

Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...

. Armstrong himself was unable to appear since he was under contract to Okeh, although he collaborated with Hardin on three of the four songs. His place was taken by George Mitchell

George Mitchell (jazz musician)

George Mitchell was a cornet player active in the 1920s.In 1926 he recorded with the New Orleans Wanderers and New Orleans Bootblacks , taking the place of the unavailable Louis Armstrong, and shortly afterwards recorded with Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers...

. Four further songs were released by the same musicians under the name New Orleans Bootblacks.

The members of the Hot Five were Lil Hardin on piano, Kid Ory

Kid Ory

Edward "Kid" Ory was a jazz trombonist and bandleader. He was born in Woodland Plantation near LaPlace, Louisiana.-Biography:...

 on trombone, Johnny St. Cyr

Johnny St. Cyr

Johnny St. Cyr was an American jazz banjoist and guitarist.St. Cyr was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is most commonly remembered as a member of Louis Armstrong's Hot Five and Hot Seven bands....

 on banjo and Johnny Dodds

Johnny Dodds

Johnny Dodds was an American New Orleans based jazz clarinetist and alto saxophonist, best known for his recordings under his own name and with bands such as those of Joe "King" Oliver, Jelly Roll Morton, Lovie Austin and Louis Armstrong. Dodds was also the older brother of drummer Warren "Baby"...

 on clarinet. George Mitchell played the cornet. Additionally, an alto sax was included—probably "Stump" (or "Stomp") Evans

Stump Evans

Paul "Stump" Evans was an American Jazz Saxophonist.He played with many famous jazz musicians of the time including Jelly Roll Morton and Kid Ory on many different sizes of saxophone but is most famous for playing C melody saxophone with King Oliver in King Oliver's Jazz Band.-External...

. The recording took place in Chicago.

The tunes (all written by Louis Armstrong) were:

As New Orleans Wanderers (recorded Chicago, July 13, 1926):

• "Gate Mouth"
• "Too Tight"
• "Perdido Street Blues"
• "Papa Dip"

As New Orleans Bootblacks (recorded Chicago, July 14, 1926):

• "I Can't Say"
• "Mixed Salad"
• "Mad Dog"
• "Flat Foot"

The series has been described as "some of the best ensemble jazz ever recorded".

Partial discography

• "Gatemouth" (Louis Armstrong) b/w "Perdido Street Blues" (Lillian Armstrong), Columbia Swing Music Series (UK) D.B. 2860
• "Too Tight" (Louis Armstrong) b/w "Papa Dip" (Louis Armstrong), Columbia Swing Music Series (UK) D.B. 2920