Johnny Dodds: The First Solo Of The Great New Orleans Clarinetist.

Johnny Dodds, born in 1892 in New Orleans (Source: ''The solo style of jazz clarinetist Johnny Dodds: 1923 – 1938'', CHAPTER 2 - pag.11, by Patricia A. Martin - Louisiana State University - https://repository.lsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2947&context=gradschool_dissertations ), had as teacher one of New Orleans master clarinetists, Lorenzo Tio jr., becoming one of finest New Orleans style clarinetist. He began his career in 1912 playing with Kid Ory's band in New Orleans untill 1918, also working during this time with Oliver’s Magnolia Band around 1916 and with the Papa Celestin’s Original Tuxedo Orchestra in 1918.
In 1919 Johnny Dodds and his brother Baby Dodds, drummer, worked on the SS Sidney riverboat with Fate Marable’s New Orleans Band. In 1920 Dodds moved to Chicago to join King Oliver, who took his band to California in 1921, returning to Chicago in 1922. In 1923 the band recorded as King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band 9 tracks for Gennett in Richmond, becoming the second black band to record after the Kid Ory’s Original Creole Jazz Band, that recorded two tracks as ''Spike’s Seven Pods of Pepper Orchestra'' in 1922, even 5 years after the first Jazz recording (1917), made by the Whites of the O.D.J.B.. The band broke up in 1924.
In 1925 the Dodds brothers and 2 members of the band, Dutrey and Johnson, moved to Bert Kelly’s Stables at 431 N. Rush Street, one of the most popular jazz clubs in Chicago, where together other musicians they became the resident house band until, except Johnson, the club was closed in 1930.
In 1920s Johnny Dodds also recorded both with his own bands and with the bands of others, including Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five and Seven (1925-1927), Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers, Freddy Kepperd's Jazz Cardinals, Ida Cox and Her Five Blue Spells, Jasper Taylor's Otiginal Washboard Band and State Street Boys, Jimmy Bertrand's Washboard Wizards, Jimmy Blythe's bands, Lovie Austin's Serenaders, several of the bands of Lil Hardin – Louis Armstrong.
In 1930s Johnny Dodds played in Chicago at some Clubs (Mrs. Cohen’s K-9 Club, the Three Deuce, Rocco Galla’s 29 Club) and at the Hotel Hayes, recording 6 tracks in New York in 1938 as JOHNNY DODDS AND HIS CHICAGO BOYS.
In January 1940 he played at the 9570 Club with a quartet formed by himself, Baby Dodds, Natty Dominique on cornet and Leo Montgomery on piano and in June he made his last recordings, 2 tracks for Decca as JOHNNY DODDS AND HIS ORCHESTRA in Chicago, where he died on August 8, 1940.

Here is his first clarinet solo, which he performed in 1923 with the King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band, that plays in perfect early New Orleans style:

''Canal Street Blues'' (King Oliver – Louis Armstrong) - King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band – Rec. Richmond April 5, 1923 – original issued on 78 rpm Gennett 5133 – Mx. 11384 – Take B, reissued also on LP RIVERSIDE RLP 12-122, bought by me in 1959-1962, from which I've downloaded it digitized.

Personnel according to Brian Rust:
KING OLIVER'S CREOLE JAZZ BAND: King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, c /
Honore Dutrey, tb / Johnny Dodds, cl / Lil Hardin, p / Bill Johnson, bj /
Baby Dodds, d.

The photographs and the recording in this video are more then 50 years old. Copyright Disclaimer under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "FAIR USE". The intent of this video is for non profit Historic Preservation, Education.

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