Original Dixieland Jass Band was a tribute to the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, who were featured on the cover. When the New Orleans Jazz style swept New York by storm in 1917 with the arrival of the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, Jimmy Durante was part of the audience at Reisenweber's Cafe on Columbus Circle when ODJB played that venue. Durante was very impressed with the band and invited them to play at a club called the Alamo in Harlem where Jimmy played piano. Durante had his friend, Johnny Stein (the previous drummer and leader of the group), assemble a group of like-minded New Orleans
The Belgrade Dixieland Orchestra Matijaca, was the founder of the Belgrade Dixieland Orchestra and its first art director. He was greatly appreciated for his precise style directions and definition of the musical expression of the Orchestra. In addition, Ivan Svager, the saxophone player, arranger and composer contributed immeasurably to the formation and development of the band’s unique and recognizable sound. His arrangements still provide the framework for most of the compositions performed by the Orchestra. In 2005 the Orchestra initiated the jazz festival named ""The Jazz Birthday"" which is still traditionally organized on February 26. On this day in 1917, the first gramophone record