Klarinet Archive - Posting 000858.txt from 1997/02

From: Adam Michlin <amichlin@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: glass mouthpieces
Date: Tue, 25 Feb 1997 14:06:19 -0500

At 09:46 AM 2/25/97 -0800, Lisa Clayton wrote:
>Two questions: Anybody here play on an O'Brien mpc, or know where to
>try one out/purchase one? I'm on the lookout for the perfect jazz
>clarinet mouthpiece, an act not unlike snipe hunting.

I don't know that crystal mouthpieces are "better" jazz mouthpieces than
other, non-crystal, mouthpieces. Pete Fountain (famous New Orleans Jazz
clarinet player) plays on a crystal mouthpiece which is also marketed as
the "Pete Fountain" jazz mouthpiece. This mouthpiece apparently has
facings for Pete's opinion of what a jazz mouthpiece should do and I'd
suspect the facings were more relevant than the material. This is my own
pet theory as to why people think crystal mouthpieces are more appropriate
for jazz.

With that said, what style of jazz are you trying to play? It's more than
possible to use a good "classical" setup and play jazz ala Jimmy Hamilton,
Benny Goodman, Buddy DeFranco, and Eddie Daniels. Add tasteful vibrato and
swing.

-Adam
amichlin@-----.edu
amichlin@-----.com