[Dixielandjazz] Clarinet solo -- who was first?

[Stan Brager]

Larry;

When Porter Steele wrote "High Society" in 1901, there was no part
comparable to the Dodds solo. That was added later and as a piccolo solo.
Aphonse Picou was the first to adapt the piccolo solo to the clarinet.
Certainly, Oliver and Dodds, as well as other musicians in New Orleans were
familiar with both the tune and the Picou solo.

I agree with you that the solo is a tour de force for clarinetists.

Stan
Stan Brager

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Laurence Swain" <l.swain at comcast.net>
To: <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Cc: "Dixieland Jazz Mailing List" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 02, 2007 5:45 PM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Clarinet solo -- who was first?


> Listening to the 2-CD set by Off The Record: The Complete 1923 (King
Oliver) 1923 Jazz
> Band Recordings, I was struck by the clarinet solo by Johnny Dodds to
close "High Society
> Rag".  I have been hearing that same clarinet solo on performance after
performance of
> "High Society" by different bands in the 60 years or so I've been
listening to this music,
> usually note-for-note the same as Dodds' performance in 1923.
>
> Question: Did Dodds originate this particular solo, or was it someone
else?
>
> Larry Swain
> (Backup piano player of last resort in the Boston area)
>
>