Jimmy Lytell
Encyclopedia
Jimmy Lytell was an American jazz
clarinetist. Critic Scott Yanow
called him "One of the most underrated clarinetists in jazz history".
Lytell's first professional experience came at age twelve, and by the beginning of the 1920s he was recording with early jazz ensembles. He played in the Original Indiana Five in 1921 and the Original Memphis Five in 1922-25, and also played in the Original Dixieland Jazz Band in 1922-24. After the 1920s he rarely performed in jazz settings, spending more time as a studio and orchestra musician. He worked as a staff musician for NBC
during this time. From 1949 into the late 1950s he appeared in the New Original Memphis Five revival band, and recorded with Connee Boswell
late in the 1950s. He continued to perform up until a year before his death. As a leader, he recorded 18 titles in 1926-28 and six more for London Records
in 1950.
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...
clarinetist. Critic Scott Yanow
Scott Yanow
Scott Yanow is an American jazz commentator, known for many contributions to the Allmusic website, for writing ten books on jazz and for reviewing jazz recordings for over 30 years.-Biography:...
called him "One of the most underrated clarinetists in jazz history".
Lytell's first professional experience came at age twelve, and by the beginning of the 1920s he was recording with early jazz ensembles. He played in the Original Indiana Five in 1921 and the Original Memphis Five in 1922-25, and also played in the Original Dixieland Jazz Band in 1922-24. After the 1920s he rarely performed in jazz settings, spending more time as a studio and orchestra musician. He worked as a staff musician for NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
during this time. From 1949 into the late 1950s he appeared in the New Original Memphis Five revival band, and recorded with Connee Boswell
Connee Boswell
Constance Foore "Connee" Boswell was an American female vocalist born in Kansas City but raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. With her sisters, Martha and Helvetia "Vet" Boswell, she performed in the 1930s as The Boswell Sisters and became a highly influential singing group during this period via...
late in the 1950s. He continued to perform up until a year before his death. As a leader, he recorded 18 titles in 1926-28 and six more for London Records
London Records
London Records, referred to as London Recordings in logo, is a record label headquartered in the United Kingdom, originally marketing records in the United States, Canada and Latin America from 1947 to 1979, then becoming a semi-independent label....
in 1950.