Klarinet Archive - Posting 000608.txt from 1998/09

From: Edmund William White <ewwhite@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Jazz Bass
Date: Thu, 17 Sep 1998 02:09:36 -0400

On Wed, 16 Sep 1998, Shouryu Nohe wrote:

> Heh...I know this is going to sound weird, coming from me, but I have a
> quextion concerning bass...(Not trying to sound conceited or
> anything..well, nevermind)...

> We're playing this wonderful piece in Jzz band called The Peacocks. This
> ballad totally rolls. This is so smooth that I'm in ecstacy. The entire
> thing is a bass clarinet solo. Go fig. *shrug*

Let's see if I can get my band to play it.......

> Thing is - I hvae little experience with jazz bass, and so I've never
> really needed to produce a massive amount of projection. At the moment
> I'm playing a Hite (if I had the financial means to change that to say, a
> Morgan, you know I would), but if anyone can suggest a mouthpiece that is
> particularly louder than most bass mpcs, I'd appreciate it. ^_^

I play jazz bass, and I don't necessarily worry about projection.
Not knowing anything about the piece you're playing, I'd recommend
projecting just as you would in an orchestral setting. The Selmer C*
seems to be the bass standard. I've met players who use varying reed
strengths (Vandoren 2-4.5) on the C* with success. I play a Sayre refaced
C* with Vandoren 4's and a Peter Spriggs ligature for my jazz work. I
don't produce a tone with much edge, but rather a fluid vibrato-rich
sound. That's just the sound I like to have........But, as far as
projection is concerned, I'd assume the Selmer C* would project better.

Ed White

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