Jimmy Lytell

Who was Jimmy Lytell?

Jimmy Lytell was an American jazz clarinetist. Critic Scott Yanow called him "One of the most underrated clarinetists in jazz history".

Lytell's first professional experience came at age twelve, and by the beginning of the 1920s he was recording with early jazz ensembles. He played in the Original Indiana Five in 1921 and the Original Memphis Five in 1922-25, and also played in the Original Dixieland Jazz Band in 1922-24. After the 1920s he rarely performed in jazz settings, spending more time as a studio and orchestra musician. He worked as a staff musician for NBC during this time. From 1949 into the late 1950s he appeared in the New Original Memphis Five revival band, and recorded with Connee Boswell late in the 1950s. He continued to perform up until a year before his death. As a leader, he recorded 18 titles in 1926-28 and six more for London Records in 1950.