Rod Cless

Rod Cless (born May 20, 1907 in Iowa as George Roderick Cless , † December 8, 1944 ) was an American Dixieland jazz musician ( saxophone , clarinet ).

Career

Cless began his career in college bands like the Varsity Five at Iowa State University . In the mid-1920s he moved to Des Moines , where he met the band leader Frank Teschemacher . With him he went to Chicago and worked there with him in the orchestra of Charlie Pierce . In the late 1920s he toured the southern states with Frank Quartell's band: Back in Chicago, Cless performed at the Wig Wam Club and was part of the Louis Panico combo . During this time, Cless played increasingly the saxophone and also worked outside the jazz scene in club guest appearances and as a clarinet teacher. In the early 1930s he was involved in the recordings of Ted Lewis .

In 1939 he played again increasingly with jazz musicians; so he worked on Muggsy Spanier's recordings for Bluebird . In 1942 he was involved in Art Hode's recordings for Blue Note ; he also worked with Gene Krupa , Marty Marsala , Ed Farley , George Brunis , Wild Bill Davison , Bobby Hackett , James P. Johnson , Jack Teagarden and Mezz Mezzrow . In 1944 he became a member of Max Kaminsky's band, with whom he performed in New York's Pied Piper Club . Under his own name he recorded two 78s in a quartet for Black & White in 1944 , such as the numbers "Froggy Moore" and "Have You Ever Felt That Way". Trumpeter Sterling Bose also belonged to his band .

Rod Cless died in December 1944 as a result of a fall from a balcony. He was a brother-in-law of Bud Freeman .

Discography

• Sittin 'in
• The Funky Piano Of Art Hodes
• Art Hodes And His Chicagoans, The Best In 2 Beat
• The Complete Art Hodes Blue Note Sessions
• Relaxin 'at the Touro
• At the Jazz Band Ball: Chicago / New York Dixieland
• The Great Sixteen
• Froggy Moore -b / w Have You Ever Felt That Way

Web links

• Biography of Eugene Chadbourne on Allmusic