“Weary Blues” – Louis Armstrong and his Hot Seven (1927)

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