Baby Dodds
Encyclopedia
Warren "Baby" Dodds was a jazz
drummer
born in New Orleans
, Louisiana
.
"Baby" Dodds was the younger brother of clarinetist Johnny Dodds
. He is regarded as one of the very best jazz drummers of the pre-big band
era, and one of the most important early jazz drummers. Dodds was among the first drummers who improvised while performing to be recorded. He varied his drum patterns with accents and flourishes, and he generally kept the beat with the bass drum while playing buzz rolls on the snare. Some of his early influences include Louis Cottrell, Sr.
, Harry Zeno, Henry Martin, and Tubby Hall.
Dodds gained reputation as a top young drummer in New Orleans, then worked on Mississippi River
steamship bands with young Louis Armstrong
. He moved to California
in 1921 to work with Joe "King" Oliver there, and followed Oliver to Chicago
, which would be his base of operations.
Dodds recorded with Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton
, Art Hodes
, and his brother Johnny Dodds. In the late 1940s he worked at Jimmy Ryan's in New York City
. On some of his trips back to New Orleans, he recorded with Bunk Johnson
. After three strokes in 1949 and 1950, Dodds tutored and played in public irregularly, though he was unable to complete entire performances. In 1954 he played for a Natty Dominique recording session which also featured bassman Israel Crosby and pianist Lil Hardin Armstrong.
Dodds continues to be admired for the creativity of his playing. He believed in playing something different for every chorus of every tune. Additionally Dodds is perhaps the first jazz drummer to record unaccompanied: in 1945 he recorded two solos for Circle Records, and the next year recorded a series of solos and reminiscences for Folkways Records
.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
born in New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
.
"Baby" Dodds was the younger brother of clarinetist Johnny Dodds
Johnny Dodds
Johnny Dodds was an American New Orleans based jazz clarinetist and alto saxophonist, best known for his recordings under his own name and with bands such as those of Joe "King" Oliver, Jelly Roll Morton, Lovie Austin and Louis Armstrong. Dodds was also the older brother of drummer Warren "Baby"...
. He is regarded as one of the very best jazz drummers of the pre-big band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
era, and one of the most important early jazz drummers. Dodds was among the first drummers who improvised while performing to be recorded. He varied his drum patterns with accents and flourishes, and he generally kept the beat with the bass drum while playing buzz rolls on the snare. Some of his early influences include Louis Cottrell, Sr.
Louis Cottrell, Sr.
Louis Cottrell was an influential American jazz drummer. "Old Man" Cottrell was the father of Louis Cottrell, Jr. and great-grandfather of New Orleans jazz drummer Louis Cottrell....
, Harry Zeno, Henry Martin, and Tubby Hall.
Dodds gained reputation as a top young drummer in New Orleans, then worked on Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
steamship bands with young Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
. He moved to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 1921 to work with Joe "King" Oliver there, and followed Oliver to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, which would be his base of operations.
Dodds recorded with Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton
Jelly Roll Morton
Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe , known professionally as Jelly Roll Morton, was an American ragtime and early jazz pianist, bandleader and composer....
, Art Hodes
Art Hodes
Arthur W. Hodes , known professionally as Art Hodes, was an American jazz pianist.-Biography:...
, and his brother Johnny Dodds. In the late 1940s he worked at Jimmy Ryan's in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. On some of his trips back to New Orleans, he recorded with Bunk Johnson
Bunk Johnson
Willie Gary "Bunk" Johnson was a prominent early New Orleans jazz trumpet player in the early years of the 20th century who enjoyed a revived career in the 1940s....
. After three strokes in 1949 and 1950, Dodds tutored and played in public irregularly, though he was unable to complete entire performances. In 1954 he played for a Natty Dominique recording session which also featured bassman Israel Crosby and pianist Lil Hardin Armstrong.
Dodds continues to be admired for the creativity of his playing. He believed in playing something different for every chorus of every tune. Additionally Dodds is perhaps the first jazz drummer to record unaccompanied: in 1945 he recorded two solos for Circle Records, and the next year recorded a series of solos and reminiscences for Folkways Records
Folkways Records
Folkways Records was a record label founded by Moses Asch that documented folk, world, and children's music. It was acquired by the Smithsonian Institution in 1987, and is now part of Smithsonian Folkways.-History:...
.
Inventor of the modern ride cymbal pattern
Most of his contemporaries would play a short buzz or press roll on the back beats (the 2nd and 4th beats), but Dodds would play a long roll that lasted till the following beat, which created a smoother time feel that he later developed into the jazz ride pattern most commonly used ever since.Further reading
- The Baby Dodds Story, a biography by Larry Gara based on extensive interviews with Dodds, first published in 1959, ISBN 978-1888408089.
External links
- Selected Discography of Baby Dodds on Folkways RecordsFolkways RecordsFolkways Records was a record label founded by Moses Asch that documented folk, world, and children's music. It was acquired by the Smithsonian Institution in 1987, and is now part of Smithsonian Folkways.-History:...