Discogs PWA

Original Indiana Five

New York-based band of the 1920s playing jazz music in the style of the [a=The Original Memphis Five] or the [a=Original Dixieland Jazz Band]. Under the name "Original Indiana Syncopators" the band made its first recordings for John Fletcher's [l=Olympic (11)] label in April and May 1923. At that point, it comprised leader Newman Fier on piano, [a=Johnny Sylvester] on trumpet, [a=Vincent Grande] on trombone, [a=Johnny Costello] on clarinet, and [a=Tommy Morton] on drums. For the May session, they added [a=Nick Vitalo] on sax and clarinet (Costello soon left) and [a=Tony Colucci] on banjo. In September 1923, Sylvester took over the band, which then recorded for [l=Pathé], and [a=Harry Ford] replaced Fier on piano. In 1925, when the band recorded with [l=Gennett], Morton became its leader. Trumpeter [a=James Christie (6)] and trombonist [a=Charles Panelli] replaced Sylvester and Grande. For the band's first [l=OKeh] sessions in September 1925, [a=Pete Pellezzi] took over from Panelli. In October 1926, Christie also left. His replacement, trumpeter [a=Tony Tortomas], joined the band for some of its best recordings until it disbanded in 1929.

Members: Tony Colucci, Johnny Costello, Charles Panelli, Vincent Grande, Harry Ford, Tommy Morton, Tony Tortomas, Nick Vitalo, Pete Pelizzi, Pete Pellezzi, and James Christie (6)