Rod Cless

George Roderick Cless (May 20, 1907, in Lenox, Iowa – December 8, 1944, in New York City)^[1] was an American jazz clarinetist and saxophonist, perhaps best known for his work on sixteen Muggsy Spanier tunes^[2] for Bluebird Records. Additionally, Cless worked with other artists such as Frank Teschemacher, Gene Krupa, Art Hodes, Bobby Hackett, Max Kaminsky and Mezz Mezzrow.^[1]

Rod Cless
Birth name	Rod Cless
Born	(1907-05-20)May 20, 1907 Lenox, Iowa, U.S.
Died	December 8, 1944(1944-12-08) (aged 37) New York, U.S.
Genres	Jazz
Instrument(s)	Saxophone, clarinet
Formerly of	Art Hodes Muggsy Spanier

Death

Walking home from the last night of a job at the Pied Piper (where he played alongside his friend Max Kaminsky) in December 1944,^[1] Cless fell over the balcony of his apartment building and died four days later at the age of 37.^[3][4][5]

Select discography

With Art Hodes

• Sittin' In (Blue Note)
• The Funky Piano Of Art Hodes (Blue Note)
• Art Hodes And His Chicagoans, The Best In 2 Beat (Blue Note)
• The Complete Art Hodes Blue Note Sessions (Blue Note)

With Muggsy Spanier

• Relaxin' at the Touro (Bluebird)
• At the Jazz Band Ball:Chicago/New York Dixieland (Bluebird)
• The Great 16!, (originally recorded on Bluebird and reissued by RCA Victor Jazz Classics)^[6]

With the Rod Cless Quartet

• "Froggy Moore" b/w "Have You Ever Felt That Way" - Black & White Records 29 A (BW 33)/29 B (BW 36)