Did you ever wonder how the music you love came to be? Could you pick it apart to see how it works? What would you find if you did?
Mais Yeah! is a collection of music and stories inspired by the life and playing style of the great Johnny Dodds, one of the most important figures in early Jazz. Eight original compositions for clarinet and piano are paired with eight short stories about Dodds, his upbringing in New Orleans and his vital contribution to the development of modern music.
Best known for his immortal role in Louis Armstrong’s Hot Five and Hot Seven groups, Dodds was famed for his powerful sound in the chalumeau register. His intense use of vibrato, rich and dark tone quality and his emotional blues improvisations set standards in clarinet playing. Dodds and others like him left a legacy encoded into history that can still be heard in music made today.
Through playing the pieces and reading the stories, music lovers will learn about the unique and special combination of traits that made Dodds so influential and the cultural landscape that shaped him. You already owe something to Johnny Dodds, even if you do not yet realise it.
This book is suitable for clarinet players of Grades 1-4 standard. The compositions focus on developing student ability in the chalumeau register and increasing comfort with playing chromatically.
Mais Yeah! features magnificent cover illustrations by Kareen Cox.
Kareen Cox, is a muti-disciplinary creative. Her skillset covers graphic design, digital illustration and photography. Her designs often feature bright colours, and she particularly enjoys exploring portraiture, typography, and geometric elements.
Some of her career highlights include a solo showcase of her art, talking to school-aged students at a careers fair, designing two Royal Mail stamps, and even appearing on BBC News to talk about them. With over two decades of experience in graphic design, she's collaborated with various organisations on advertising campaigns, corporate branding, and marketing materials. To view more of her work visit her website or follow her on Instagram.
Mais Yeah! was recorded on May 09, 2025 at West London Music Studio. The recordings feature Jack Jules, and Professor Robert Mitchell.
Over his 30 plus years entrenched in the art of music, Robert Mitchell has released 13 albums of his own projects, participated in over 100 projects as a sideman, has performed/toured in 40 countries and is achieving a growing reputation as an inspirational educator. Robert was conferred the title of professor in June 2022 (from Guildhall School of Music/Drama). He has been a Steinway Artist since 2009.
Audio recordings, further reading and teaching support materials are available from the Discover page. Here are some quick links to the essential resources.
