It's time to get back to some real good Prohibition-era music to kick of the year, and one of the best is Johnny Dodds. Dodds and his younger brother, drummer Baby Dodds are well known. However, pianist Jimmy Blythe is usually overlooked despite performing on a lot of recordings during the twenties. The sides presented here include some alternative takes, and Louis Armstrong makes a cornet appearance on four tracks. Full info is in the scans. "Johnny Dodds was one of the greatest clarinetist of the 1920's. Although both Jimmie Noone and Sidney Bechet had better technique, Dodds had a very soulful, bluesy style of playing that was often emotionally powerful. He was a master of the New Orleans' ensemble style of collective improvisation. He didn't have the flash of Louis Armstrong, but often provided the perfect environment for Armstrong to shine. He worked with most of the major Hot Jazz bands of the era. Dodds was in Kid Ory's band in New Orleans from 1912 to 1919. He played on riverboats with Fate Marable in 1917 and moved to Chicago in 1921 to play with King Oliver. Johnny and his brother Baby Dodds were an important part of Louis Armstrong's classic Hot Five and Hot Seven recordings for Okeh. During the 1920's he also recorded with Oliver's Creole Jazz Band, Jelly Roll Morton and on most of Lil Hardin-Armstrong's sessions. Unlike many of his famous contemporaries, Dodds and his brother stayed in Chicago and were pretty much forgotten as Jazz moved East to New York in the Thirties. He recorded several records under his own name in the Twenties, often with Natty Dominique on trumpet, and worked regularly at Kelly's Stables from 1924 to 1930. Dodds continued to play and record in Chicago throughout the Thirties, and also ran a cab company with his brothers." (redhotjazz.com). Enjoy! +
Tracks
01 - Little Bits
02 - Struggling
03 - Struggling
04 - Easy Come Easy Go Blues
05 - The Blues Stampede
06 - I'm Goin' Huntin'
07 - If You Want To Be My Sugar Papa
08 - Bohunkus Blues
09 - Idle Hour Special
10 - 47th Street Stomp
11 - 47th Street Stomp
12 - Buddy Burton's Jazz
13 - Messin' Around - Take 1
14 - Messin' Around - Take 2
15 - Adams Apple
16 - Ape Man
17 - Your Folks
18 - Weary Way Blues
19 - Poutin' Papa
20 - Hot Stuff
21 - Have Mercy!
22 - My Baby
23 - Oriental Man
