Jazz ¿¿ la Creole: The Baby Dodds Trio in Bloomington, MN

Although he receives first billing on this LP, drummer
Baby Dodds
is only on five of the 11 selections. However these titles (three of which have
Dodds
in a trio with clarinetist
Albert Nicholas
and pianist
Don Ewell
while
"Manhattan Stomp"
is a feature for
Ewell's
fine stride piano) are historic. The two "Drum Improvisations" from 1946 were among the very first unaccompanied jazz drum solos ever recorded, and they really display
Baby Dodds'
colorful technique at its best. Four other songs on the album are from 1947 and feature
Nicholas'
clarinet in a quartet with pianist
James P. Johnson
, banjoist
Danny Barker
and bassist
Pops Foster
(with vocals in Creole by
Barker
and
Nicholas
) while the remaining number, "Danny's Banjo Blues," showcases
Barker's
solo playing in 1951. These unusual recordings, originally made for
Rudi Blesh's
Circle label, are highly recommended to New Orleans jazz collectors. ~ Scott Yanow