Klarinet Archive - Posting 000107.txt from 1996/06

From: "Joie Canada , Jcanada713@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Jazz Clarinetisits?
Date: Thu, 6 Jun 1996 12:38:51 -0400

Dear Scott,

Thanks for the reply. The octave thing almost goes without saying, but more
than that, I have found that listening to many good groups on records, radio
etc and finding the unique contribution that the clarinet can make to a jazz
sound and then fitting ones own skill into that sort of musical line within
the available setting (other instruments and type and style of piece) I play
Dixieland and Folk music now as well as the "flyspecks" stuff and we seldom
use any printed music since the objective is to know the tune and the part
each instrument plays within that tune and we have to listen and respond to
each other. This seldom works if there are more than about 7 or 8 players
going at the same time. It always pays to drop out or play low harmony while
someone else takes lead for a while. Even great players like Louis Armstrong
knew when to fade out and let the Trombone or Clarinet take a chorus. It may
be that the Jazz Bands in the high schools are too big to allow much freedom.
Benny Goodman used to use, and I believe developed, the concept of a written
core of big band music with open charts for planned leads at certain points
in the performance.

If high school jazz bands can learn to begin to free themselves from the
confines of written scores and arrangements they will find places for any
instrument that wants to play and has the skill to contribute something. It
takes a skilled and experienced instructor to lead young musicians into this
type of playing and my good memories and continued interest in music is in
part a tribute to Robert Swan who was my teacher back in high school. Move
over, Mr Holland! That was a long time ago but we remember.

Joie