[Dixielandjazz] Baby Dodds drumming

[Brian Towers]

William Price wrote:
>
>
> I had the privilege  of playing with Baby Dodds for a few weeks in 1947/8
at
> the Beehive in Chicago.  Miff Mole had the band and it included Darnell
> Howard and Don Ewell. Baby's style sure let a band swing in my opinion.
> Don rarely had much good to say about drummers, at least to me over many
> years, but did like Dodds, Zutti and Minor Hall.  A comment: besides Hal
> Smith, one might include Wayne Jones in a list of tasteful drummers.  Bill
> Price


William,
Many thanks for the input on Baby Dodds - in my not so humble opinion the
greatest drummer of them all and one whose style is very relevant today (or
should be!)  Shame he died so comparatively young
It is worth mentioning again that even the great Gene Krupa was an admirer
and was much influenced by his style.

Don Ewell sure had excellent taste in drummers - Dodds, Zutty & Minor Hall -
pheew!   Well he was a hell of a pianist and he had a sound understanding of
the essentials of traditional jazz style.

I would much rather hear about these jazz greats than Charlie Parker who
does not even play jazz - he plays bebop which is another genre altogether.
I am not knocking him - it is just out of place for me.
Regards,
Brian Towers

(I've been off-list for a while but I see the topics are still the same!)