Clarinet Week on the channel wraps up today with one of my favorite players, the great Johnny Dodds, playing with Louis Armstrong and his Hot Seven – somehow mislabeled on this record as his Hot Five.
Dodds comes storming out of the gate on this one – playing loop-de-loops around Armstrong as Satch states the rhythmic melody in the introductory section. A few hot banjo and tuba breaks later, Armstrong drives home an energetic solo which is abruptly taken over by Dodds playing a syncopated riff in a very low register – which he stays within throughout the rest of his solo.
John Thomas follows with a trombone solo which is followed by Satch and his cornet leading us back to the ensemble for a rousing end.
Recorded in Chicago, Illinois on May 11, 1927.
Released as Okeh 8519.
Credits:
Louis Armstrong – cornet
John Thomas – trombone
Johnny Dodds – clarinet
Lil Armstrong – piano
Johnny St. Cyr – banjo
Pete Briggs – tuba
Baby Dodds – drums