The Famous Castle Jazz Band


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The Castle Jazz Band was a Portland-based Dixieland jazz band, part of the West Coast Revival of traditional jazz music. The Castle Jazz Band started in 1944 and was led by banjoist Monty Ballou. The band released a series of recordings on its own Castle Records label. Cornet player Don Kinch claimed that one of these records, Floating Down the Old Green River, sold more than a million copies. The band disbanded in 1951, and Ballou formed a new version of the band that performed in a club called the Diamond Horseshoe. Ballou sold the club in 1954 and disbanded The Castle Jazz Band in order to join Doc Evans. Ballou periodically reformed the group for concerts and recordings, including sessions in 1968 and 1972.

Ernie Carson, who performed with The Castle Jazz Band in the 50s, later led a group called The Castle Jazz Band, years after the demise of the original group. Please use The Castle Jazz Band for recordings made after 1977.

ALBUMS


Castle Jazz Band*
The Historic 1947-1950 Recordings
2003, CD, Comp, B&W Music (2)
The Famous Castle Jazz Band
WHER'M I GONNA LIVE?
1994, CD, Album, Comp, Stomp Off Records
The Famous Castle Jazz Band
The Famous Castle Jazz Band In Hi-Fi
1959, 7", EP, Good Time Jazz, Jolly
The Famous Castle Jazz Band
The Famous Castle Jazz Band In Hi-Fi Vol. 1
1959, 7", EP, Good Time Jazz, Jolly Hi-Fi Records
The Famous Castle Jazz Band
Plays The Five Pennies
1959, Vinyl, ,
Dixieland
The Famous Castle Jazz Band
The Famous Castle Jazz Band In Hi-Fi
1958, LP, Album, Mono, Good Time Jazz
The Famous Castle Jazz Band
The Famous Castle Jazz Band In Hi-Fi
1958
The Castle Jazz Band*
Darktown Strutter's Ball
1955
The Castle Jazz Band* ; Kid Ory's Creole Band* ; Charlie Lavere's Chicago Loopers ; Pete Daily's Chicagoans / The Castle Jazz Band*
Who's Sorry Now / High Society
1953, Shellac,
Castle Jazz Band*
Eccentric / Smokey Mokes
1950, Shellac, 10", Castle Records (29)
The Castle Jazz Band*
When The Saints Go Marching In
1950, Shellac, 10", Tempo (14)
Castle Jazz Band*
When The Saints Come Marching In (Part 1) / When The Saints Come Marching In (Part 2)
1950, Shellac, 10", Castle Records (29)
Castle Jazz Band*
Sugar Foot Stomp / Sister Kate
1950, Shellac, 10", Castle Records (29)
The Castle Jazz Band*
Kansas City Stomps / Darktown Strutters Ball
1950
Castle Jazz Band*
Royal Garden Blues / Story Book Ball
1950
Castle Jazz Band*
Down In Jungle Town / Kansas City Torch
1950
Castle Jazz Band*
When The Saints Come Marching In - 1. / When The Saints Come Marching In - 2.
1949, Shellac, 10", Storyville
The Famous Castle Jazz Band
Sweet Georgia Brown / Loveless Love
1949, Shellac, 10", Castle Records (29)
Castle Jazz Band*
Original Dixieland One Step / Sugar Blues
1949, Shellac, 10", Castle Records (29)
Castle Jazz Band*
No Bop Hop Scop Blues / Tiger Rag
1949
Castle Jazz Band*
I've Been Floating Down That Old Green River / Farewell Blues
1949
Castle Jazz Band*
Ory's Creole Trombone / Georgia Camp Meeting
1947
Monte Ballou Sings With The Castle Band*
The Torch (When The Gang's All Gone)
7", California Records (3)
The Castle Jazz Band*
Millionnaire De 5 Sous
7", EP, Disques Vogue
The Famous Castle Jazz Band
My Blue Heaven
7", RE, Good Time Jazz
Castle Jazz Band*
Sunset Cafe Stomp / Sensation
Shellac, 10", Single, Castle Records (29)
The Castle Jazz Band*
Ory's Creole Trombone / Georgia Camp Meeting
Shellac, 10", RE, Tempo (14)