Biography

Johnny Dodds (1892-1940), brother of the legendary drummer Warren “Baby” Dodds, is a cornerstone of the New Orleans clarinet tradition. He is most well-known for his prolific contributions to King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band and the Hot Fives and Sevens recordings of Louis Armstrong. The recordings made by these groups were some of the earliest recordings of jazz music and were foundational to the swing, bebop, and modern jazz eras that followed. You could recognize Dodds by his powerful lower register, singing upper register, and singular expression of the blues.