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. Mid-1920s Ja19hre he moved to Des Moines, where he met the bandleader Frank Teschemacher. With him, he went to Chicago and worked with him in the orchestra of Charlie Pierce. In the late 1920s he was touring in the southern states with Frank Quartells Band: Back in Chicago, Cless occurred in the Wig Wam Club and belonged to the combo of Louis Panico. During this time Cless played saxophone and increasingly worked outside the jazz scene in Club guest performances as well as a clarinet teacher. In the early 1930s he was involved in recordings by Ted Lewis.

In 1939 he played again increased along with jazz musicians; so, he contributed to Muggsy Spaniard recordings for Bluebird. In 1942 he was involved in Art Hodes recordings for Blue Note; in addition, he worked with Gene Krupa, Marty Marsala, Ed Farley, George Bruni, Wild Bill Davison, Bobby Hackett, James P. Johnson, Jack Teagarden and Mezz Mezzrow. In 1944 he was a member of Max Kaminsky's band, with whom he appeared in the New York Pied Piper Club. Under his own name he took in 1944 as a quartet for Black & White two 78s on how the numbers " Froggy Moore" and " Have You Ever Felt That Way ". His band was also a member of trumpeter Sterling Bose.

Rod Cless died in December 1944 from the effects of a balcony fall. He was a brother 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
• The Great Sixteen
• Froggy Moore -b / w Have You Ever Felt That Way