Klarinet Archive - Posting 000153.txt from 2000/06

From: "Don Yungkurth" <clarinet@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Saxophonists Die Younger?
Date: Tue, 6 Jun 2000 13:13:08 -0400

In today's paper:

"Saxophonists die younger than musicians who specialize in any other
instrument, says <The British Medical Journal>.

Studying 813 jazz saxophonists born between 1882 and 1974, the researchers
discovered that half died before they were 40. Half of other musicians
hung on until at least 60.

The researchers thought the "circular breathing technique", in which a
player inhales through the nose while blowing out through the mouth, might
reduce blood flow to the heart and brain and contribute to the "high" a
players feels. It might also facilitate strokes and heart attacks, the
study said."

The above was the entire article, at least as reported by our local paper.

A number of questions come to mind:

1. Do these "researchers" have any clue what the word "high" means to a
jazz musician?

2. Was Charlie Parker included in the group examined and do they know what
he was high on and how it affected his health? Did Parker use circular
breathing?

3. How common was circular breathing in the group examined?

4. Is this why I've never gotten around to learning circular breathing?

5. Are these researchers suggesting a cause and effect relationship, or
merely reporting a correlation?

6. And finally, how is Kenny G's health?

Don Yungkurth (clarinet@-----.net)

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