Baby Dodds - An Appreciation

www.traditional-jazz.com
Baby Dodds was one of the founding fathers of jazz drumming. John Petters discusses and demonstrates his style and technique. There are two videos on YouTube which claim to do so but fail. John Petters has been a professional jazz drummer for over 25 years, specilalising in the early jazz styles. More details on Baby Dodds may be found on www.traditional-jazz.com

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Baby
• Dodds
• John
• Petters
• Drum
• Solo
• Gene
• Krupa
• New
• Orleans
• Jazz
• drum
• lesson
• dixieland

[GroffinTiffin]

nice...thx for posting. not too much on here about this style of drumming.

[johnpetters]

@GroffinTiffin Thanks everybody for the positive replies. Baby Dodds was very special.

[turnitback]

John's Youtube videos are essential watching for anyone wanting to learn Trad Jazz.

I don't think I'd quibble about which hand does the bounced strokes and which the 4-4 DBJustin. After all, it's the sound that matters.

I usually play PRs as John does, but a teacher says I am unusual, being a right-hander that plays them left- handed. His "left-handed" the opposite DBJustin's left-handed. I don't profess to know which is correct. I wonder, could John perhaps clarify this?

[johnpetters]

@turnitback Thanks for the comments.

I can't say which is correct.

Have a look at the clip of the Ory band with Minor hall. He is rolling with the left hand and beating 4 with the right.

[johnpetters]

@turnitback Can't post a link to the video but search for Ory's Muskrat Ramble from 1956

[shraunbone]

Wonderful playing.

[johnpetters]

@shraunbone Thank you!

[noxiscool]

That was fantastic. Amazing film, amazing playing and an amazing tribute. Interesting, informative, entertaining and good editing. I like it a lot.

[mgimino]

Well done John, a truly appropriate Baby Dodds lesson video. The other guys should take notes.

[hoodlum666]

@brainman214, Who cares, Baby dodds used to do eckys on the drum kit.

[jaschaheifetz]

I enjoyed listening to your description of Mr. Dodds, and your very musical and relaxed playing.

Well done.

[klikonojazz]

Than You for this wonderful demonstration!

[webstercat]

Very informative and well done. Thanks for your presentation.

[turnitback]

John, thank you for your reply.

In my book, any sticking pattern is correct if it works in a given situation, irrespective of whether another pattern is more commonly used .

Thinking again about the left/right-handed question, it seems to me that playing 4-4 on the snare drum in a press roll is the equivalent of playing the ride, hi-hat, etc. that way in similar patterns. Surely, therefore, Minor Hall and John Petters (and indeed I) play it RIGHT-, not left-, handed.

[brainman214]

I Do.Dodds kicked in the day.Sad you"Don't Care",Brainy

[hoodlum666]

@brainman214 yeah who cares

[TheBabydodds]

grande john petters, sei stato fedelissimo a babydods, lo stile è quello, la posizione della batteria anche e soprattutto l'assenza del charleston

[TimBrianLaraLatham]

Ginger Baker sites Baby Dodds as a major influence. Apparently a member of the band Baker was in at the time, took him to a record shop, gave him several Baby Dodds LPs and said, "This is what we want you to play like." Other great drummers that have incorporated African rhythms in their drumming would be: Phil Seamen, Ginger Baker, Max Roach, Art Blakey and Elvin Jones.

[tytaniumboxhead]

excellent.

[TBAGSHAW]

Hello John,

Thanks for the information this was great. That style of playing is very over looked and is of course the foundation of all that we as drummers do. Thanks again.

[miketalbot4]

Great playing! I really enjoyed that

[gitterfritter]

Damn ... that was sweet. Awesome video.

[brainman214]

This is cool!Baby Dodds was really good back in the day.Sad he left us the year i was born.I liked hearing the style you shared with us.Did he ever do full tom rolls? I like the toms because they sound almost like the kettle drum.The roll can almost make you think you hear the Tympani.Thanks for your demos! Brainy

[OranjestaDrummer]

great video!!

[DrummerBoyJustin]

and the style me and you seem to be studying

[DrummerBoyJustin]

well first your demonstration of the press role should have been done left handed to be totally accurate to baby dodds and babies messy triplets were called swiss army triplets which was a flamed tape in a triplet feel.

do you have an email address i would be happy to talk to you about babies style.