In this episode of pplpod, we explore the incredible life and career of Cladys "Jabbo" Smith, a virtuoso American jazz trumpeter. Born in 1908 in Pembroke, Georgia, Jabbo's musical journey began at the Jenkins Orphanage in Charleston, where he learned the trumpet and began touring with the orphanage band by age ten.

We dive deep into the roaring 1920s jazz scene, tracing Smith's rise from a professional teenage musician to a prominent figure in Manhattan. Listeners will hear about his time performing alongside legends like Fats Waller and James P. Johnson in the 1928 Broadway musical revue Keep Shufflin'. We also unpack his famous 1929 recording sessions for Brunswick Records, where he was famously billed as a direct rival to Louis Armstrong. Additionally, we explore his pioneering role in early interracial blues sessions, includin ...