Baby Dodds

Infobox musical artist
Name = Baby Dodds
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Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth_name = Warren Dodds
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Born = December 24 1898
Died = February 14 1959
Origin = flagicon|USA New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Instrument = Drums
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Genre = Jazz, dixieland
Occupation = Drummer
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Associated_acts = Johnny Dodds, Jelly Roll Morton, Art Hodes
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Warren "Baby" Dodds (December 24, 1898 – February 14, 1959) was a jazz drummer born in New Orleans, Louisiana.

"Baby" Dodds was the younger brother of clarinetist Johnny Dodds. He is regarded as one of the very best jazz drummers of the pre-big band era, and one of the most important early jazz drummers. Dodds was among the first drummers who improvised while performing to be recorded. He varied his drum patterns with accents and flourishes.

Dodds gained reputation as a top young drummer in New Orleans, then worked on Mississippi River steamship bands with young Louis Armstrong. He moved to California in 1921 to work with Joe "King" Oliver there, and followed Oliver to Chicago, which would be his base of operations.

Dodds recorded with Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Art Hodes, and his brother Johnny Dodds. In the late 1940s he worked at Jimmy Ryan's in New York City. On some of his trips back to New Orleans, he recorded with Bunk Johnson. Dodds died in Chicago at age 60.

Dodds continues to be admired for the creativity of his playing. He believed in playing something different for every chorus of every tune.

Dodds also revolutionized the drum kit by adding the floor bass or "kick drum".

Further reading

*"The Baby Dodds Story", a biography by Larry Gara based on extensive interviews with Dodds, first published in 1959.