Search - Johnny Dodds :: 1926

Born in New Orleans in 1892, Johnny Dodds became one of the founding fathers of traditional jazz. The self-taught musician, whose younger brother was drummer Warren "Baby" Dodds, principally played clarinet but also played alto saxophone. Dodds played with such pioneering jazz groups as Kid Ory and King Oliver and frequently played with early jazz masters Louis Armstrong and Jelly Roll Morton. Dodds, a thorough professional and expert bandleader, can be heard on these sides performing early jazz at its best in the company of such accomplished musicians as Freddie Keppard and George Mitchell on cornets, Ory and Eddie Vincent on trombone, and Lil Hardin Armstrong on piano. --John Swenson