Henry Ragas

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Henry Ragas (1891-1919) was a jazz pianist who played with the Original Dixieland Jazz Band on their earliest recording sessions. As such, he is the very first jazz pianist to be recorded (not counting piano rolls), although his contributions are barely audible due to the primitive recording equipment available. His role seems to have been filling out the chords and providing a bass line - he played no solos. He died of Spanish Flu in 1919, his place in the group being taken by J. Russell Robinson.