Early Jazz & Baby Dodds

Baby Dodds

Source: A Tela da Reflexão

Born on 24 December 1898, drummer, Warren "Baby" Dodds (brother of clarinetist, Johnny Dodds), began his music career in New Orleans performing in funeral marches, street parades and in various bands. Early New Orleans trumpeter, Bunk Johnson, was among those with whom he worked. Baby owns the distinction of being considered by some to be the father of jazz drumming insofar as, though he was hardly the original jazz drummer, he was the first to seriously explore the role of percussion in jazz including the drum solo.

In 1918 Baby and cornetist, Louis Armstrong, left New Orleans to play music on Mississippi riverboats destined back and forth to St. Louis. About the time he and Armstrong had had enough of that (1921), and King Oliver (cornet) had had enough of California, the three eventually found themselves playing together in Oliver's Creole Jazz Band in Chicago, together with Baby's brother, Johnny, Armstrong's bride-to-be, Lil Armstrong, on piano, Honore Dutrey on trombone and Bud Scott on banjo. The significance of their first recording session on April 5, 1923, in Richmond, Indiana, was that it was the first record release of all in the band.

'Just Gone'   King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band

First recording to issue for all

Recorded 5 April 1923 in Richmond IN    Matrix 11383-B   Gennett 5133

Cornet: King Oliver / Louis Armstrong   Trombone: Honore Dutrey

Clarinet: Johnny Dodds   Piano: Lil Armstrong

Banjo: Bud Scott   Drums: Baby Dodds

Composition: Oliver / Bill Johnson

'Canal Street Blues'   King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band

Second recording to issue for all

Recorded 5 April 1923 in Richmond IN   Matrix 11384-B   Gennett 5133

Cornet: King Oliver / Louis Armstrong   Trombone: Honore Dutrey

Clarinet: Johnny Dodds   Piano: Lil Armstrong

Banjo: Bud Scott   Drums: Baby Dodds

Composition: Oliver / Louis Armstrong

'Mandy Lee Blues'   King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band

Third recording to issue for all

Recorded 5 April 1923 in Richmond IN   Matrix 11385-C   Gennett 5134

Cornet: King Oliver / Louis Armstrong   Trombone: Honore Dutrey

Clarinet: Johnny Dodds   Piano: Lil Armstrong

Banjo: Bud Scott   Drums: Baby Dodds

Composition: Marty Bloom / Walter Melrose

'Dipper Mouth Blues'   King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band

Dipper Mouth: Louis Armstrong's nickname

Recorded 6 April 1923 in Richmond IN   Matrix 11389-B   Gennett 5132

Cornet: King Oliver / Louis Armstrong   Trombone: Honore Dutrey

Clarinet: Johnny Dodds   Piano: Lil Armstrong

Banjo: Bud Scott   Drums: Baby Dodds

Composition: Oliver / Louis Armstrong

In 1924 the Dodds brothers came to a disagreeable falling out with Oliver which saw to the demise of the Creole Jazz Band. The Armstrongs, married in February, parted with Oliver on tour as the Dodds continued in Chicago, soon acquiring a residency at Bert Kelly’s Stables for several years. Baby returned to recording in 1927, first with Walter Melrose's Dixieland Thumpers in February, next in April with Johnny's Black Bottom Stompers of which Louis Armstrong was a member. The Dodds recorded numerously with the Armstrongs in 1927. On 24 July 1929 in Chicago the Dodds made what Lord shows to be their last session together for another eleven years, that with the Beale Street Washboard Band for two takes each of 'Forty and Tight' and 'Piggly Wiggly'. In the meantime a Prohibition infraction in 1930 saw to the closure of Kelly’s Stables.

'Keyhole Blues'   Louis Armstrong's Hot Seven

Recorded 13 May 1927 in Chicago   Okeh 8496

Cornet / scat vocal: Louis Armstrong   Trombone: John Thomas

Clarinet: Johnny Dodds   Piano: Lil Armstrong

Banjo: Johnny St. Cyr   Tuba: Pete Briggs   Drums: Baby Dodds

Composition: Wesley Wilson

'Mr. Jelly Lord'   Jelly Roll Morton Trio

Recorded 10 June 1927 in Chicago   Victor 21064

Clarinet: Johnny Dodds   Piano: Jelly Roll Morton   Drums: Baby Dodds

Composition: Morton

'Piggly Wiggly'   Beale Street Washboard Band

Recorded 24 July 1929 in Chicago   Victor 21064

Last session of Baby's early recording career

Matrix C-3937-A issued on Vocalion 1403 / Banner 32388

Matrix C-3937-B issued on Brunswick 80076 / Vocalion V-1016

Cornet: Herb Morand   Clarinet: Johnny Dodds

Piano: Frank Melrose   Drums / washboard: Baby Dodds

Composition: June Cobb

Turning the page into the Depression years, the brothers experienced difficulty making the music business steadily pay. Baby eventually acquired a residency at the Three Deuces in NYC from 1936 to 1939. Lord has Baby recording after a gap of eleven years with Johnny in Chicago on 5 June 1940. That, however, was Johnny's last session, he to die of heart attack on 8 August 1940. It nevertheless ignited Baby's latter recording career, he to perform with such as Sidney Bechet, Muggsy Spanier and Jim Robinson. Certainly some of Dodd's nicest work was in the band of Bunk Johnson from 1944 to 1947, recording extensively in various venues about the nation with Johnson. Dodd also heavily participated in the 'This Is Jazz' broadcasts of 1947 out of New York City, performing with such as Wild Bill Davison. In 1948 Dodds toured Europe with Mezz Mezzrow, then continued freelancing in Chicago and NYC.

'Red Onion Blues'   Johnny Dodds & His Orchestra

Johnny's next to last recording   Baby's first of his latter career

Recorded 5 June 1940 in Chicago   Matrix 93032-A   Decca 18094

Cornet: Natty Dominique   Trombone: Preston Johnson   Clarinet: Johnny Dodds

Piano: Richard M. Jones    Guitar: Lonnie Johnson

Bass: John Lindsay   Drums: Baby Dodds

Composition: Clarence Williams

'Gravier Street Blues'   Johnny Dodds & His Orchestra

Johnny's last recording   Baby's second of his latter career

Recorded 5 June 1940 in Chicago   Matrix 93033-A   Decca 18094

Cornet: Natty Dominique   Trombone: Preston Johnson   Clarinet: Johnny Dodds

Piano: Richard M. Jones    Guitar: Lonnie Johnson

Bass: John Lindsay   Drums: Baby Dodds

Composition: Clarence Williams

'Baby Won't You Please Come Home'   Kid Shots' New Orleans Band

Recorded 5 Aug 1944 at San Jacinto Hall in New Orleans

Issued in Japan on 'American Music of George Lewis: Kid Shots'   Dan VC7017   1973

Trumpet: Kid Shots Madison   Trombone: Jim Robinson   Clarinet: George Lewis

Banjo: Lawrence Marrero   Bass: Alcide Slow Drag Pavageau   Drums: Baby Dodds

Composition: Charles Warfield / Clarence Williams   1919

'Buddy Bolden Blues'   Baby Dodds Trio

Recorded 6 Jan 1946 in New Orleans   Matrix NY-2    Circle 1039 / 3003

Some tracks in this session issued on 'A Session With Baby Dodds'   Circle S 17   1946

All tracks in this session issued on 'Jazz À La Creole'   G.H.B. BCD-50

Clarinet: Albert Nicholas   Piano: Don Ewell   Drums: Baby Dodds

Composition: Jelly Roll Morton

'Albert's Blues'   Baby Dodds Trio

Recorded 6 Jan 1946 in New Orleans   Matrix NY-3    Circle 1002

Some tracks in this session issued on 'A Session With Baby Dodds'   Circle S 17   1946

All tracks in this session issued on 'Jazz À La Creole'   G.H.B. BCD-50

Clarinet: Albert Nicholas   Piano: Don Ewell   Drums: Baby Dodds

Composition: Albert Nicholas

'Drum Improvisation No.1'   Baby Dodds Trio

Recorded 6 Jan 1946 in New Orleans   Matrix NY-4    Circle 1001

Compare to 'Drum Improvisation No.2'   Matrix NY-5: Audio

Some tracks in this session issued on 'A Session With Baby Dodds'   Circle S 17   1946

All tracks in this session issued on 'Jazz À La Creole'   G.H.B. BCD-50

Clarinet: Albert Nicholas   Piano: Don Ewell   Drums: Baby Dodds

Composition: Baby Dodds

'Maryland'   Baby Dodds

Recorded 10 Jan 1946 in NYC   'Drum Solos'   Disc Records 6006 / 6007   1946

Also issued on 'Talking and Drum Solos'   Folkways FJ 2290 & FP 30   1951

Composition: Baby Dodds

'New Orleans Drumming'   Baby Dodds   Film by Barry Martyn

Compilation of solo drumming on film commencing in Chicago 1953

Baby died in Chicago on Valentine's Day of 1959. 'The Baby Dodds Story' was published that year by Contemporary Press, put together by Larry Gara.