Klarinet Archive - Posting 001065.txt from 2003/04

From: AnneLenoir@-----.net (Anne Lenoir)
Subj: Re: [kl] Jazz mouthpieces
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2003 00:46:41 -0400

Dear Samantha,
I don't necessarily think that there is a such thing as a "jazz"
mouthpiece. I suppose there could be for some people. I just like
playing on a mouthpiece that sounds great. Sometimes I play with a reed
just a teensy bit softer than many people on the list, so I can bend
notes. I play on Gonzalez #3 1/4 reeds here in Manitou Springs, CO,
where our altitude is 6200 ft.
I like Clark Fobes'-San Francisco Mouthpiece that he made for me.
I can't read the model number on the side, as I have poor eyesight. I
also like the Vandoren M-30. I am not intelligent enough to "describe"
the type of tone that I like to produce, without getting into a stupid
debate. People play on mouthpieces that are popular for a while, then
sometimes they change again & again, trying to find the ultimate
mouthpiece. I personally like to stick with something that works for me.
I played a Vandoren 5 RV Lyre for many years, maybe 15 or more, only
after I broke my Kasper 13 back in 1980. After playing Clark's
mouthpiece, I eventually gave up my 5RV Lyre. I gave it away to one of
my 10-year-old students. I felt that my tone was too shrill. I would
rather say "bright", if that's o.k.
I don't necessarily believe in selecting a "jazz" mouthpiece and
then trying to play jazz. For some of us, improvization is playing a
melodic passage comfortably, then playing it again, slightly varied, and
again & again, playing with the melody and harmony. Every
once-in-a-while, I think to myself, "I wonder what would happen if I
tried "this" or "that", like substituting a riff from another tune into
the one I am playing if I think I could pull it off. Good jazz should
feel comfortable enough for you to hit your notes and pull off your
ideas the way that gives you satisfaction. Everybody is different.
Andrew Firth has publicly stated that he wants to play "higher" and
"faster" than anybody else on earth. Maybe he needs a special mouthpiece
to pull that off. Eddie Daniels has some mouthpieces on the market. I
haven't tried them, but I do adore his jazz playing. I don't think he
plays well because of his mouthpiece. He plays well because he has
little tiny ears inside of his fingers. ANNIE

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