Klarinet Archive - Posting 000125.txt from 1998/02

From: "Edwin V. Lacy" <el2@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: opinions on jazz players
Date: Mon, 2 Feb 1998 23:43:21 -0500

On Mon, 2 Feb 1998, dmr wrote:

> my taste happens to be on the more experimental side of jazz so id like
> to hear some thoughts on say anthony braxton, eric dolphy and jimmy
> guiffre.

I have heard recordings of Eric Dolphy playing bass clarinet, flute and
alto saxophone, but never heard him play the soprano clarinet. No matter
what instrument he is playing, I think he is or was one of the most
original thinkers about jazz. He was a product of the time in which he
made his recordings, so today it is hard for some people to understand why
he would want to play with so much aggressiveness and to be at the
forefront of experimentation. I often say about Dolphy, "Be careful about
listening to him - you might start to like his playing."

I also liked Jimmy Giuffre's playing, but I never thought of it as in any
way experimental, unless your contention is that he was experimental with
regard to his tone quality. I think to say that he had an individualized
and non-traditional sound would be more accurate.

Giuffre and Dolphy are just about at exact opposite ends of the spectrum
in terms of their musical aesthetic, so it was a little surprising to me
to see that you included them both in your category of "experimental."
Still, I like both of them. Right in the middle, about exactly halfway
between those two, I would put Buddy DeFranco. He plays great stuff in
the pure bebop tradition. The pity for his career is that he plays all
those great notes on the clarinet. If he had been inclined to play those
notes on the saxophone, he might have had a more widely accepted and
financially rewarding career. Possibly he theorized that he had a better
chance for a career as a clarinetist because when he got his start, there
were some pretty outstanding saxophonists on the scene - people like
Charlie Parker, Sonny Stitt, and Stan Getz, for example. That's obviously
just speculation on my part, and totally hypothetical.

That should serve to get a discussion going.

Ed Lacy
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Dr. Edwin Lacy University of Evansville
Professor of Music 1800 Lincoln Avenue
Evansville, IN 47722
el2@-----.edu (812)479-2754
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