Klarinet Archive - Posting 000430.txt from 2001/07

From: rgarrett@-----.edu
Subj: Re: [kl] Another musician honoured!
Date: Sun, 15 Jul 2001 18:40:20 -0400

At 03:49 PM 07/15/2001 -0600, you wrote:
>When many of us think about the "fifties" we don't necessarily think about
>Buddy Holly, Elvis and Little Richard. I prefer to think of Chet Baker,
>Charlie Parker (though he died in 1955), the wonderful bebop vocals of
>Lambert, Hendricks (Jon, who went on to be the vocal arranger of Manhattan
>Transfer) and Ross, and the clarinet stylings of Artie Shaw. (I didn't
>follow Buddy DeFranco at the time). I don't think it's closed minded at
>all to have personal musical standards. I have earned the right to have
>them. As many times as I have sung Patsy Cline tunes by request (I know 8)
>I see nothing wrong with preferring Ella or Sarah. My Tammy Wynette is
>something to behold, especially the clarinet solo in the middle. I wish I
>was good enough to play with all good jazz players all the time.
>ANNIE

You know, I really enjoy the music of Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley (who is
still alive BTW), and Little Richard. Add to that the Beatles (yes - I
actually think they were terrific musicians - especially, as Mark
indicated, during their later years - beginning with Sgt. Pepper), The
Mama's and the Papa's, and the Sensations - and you can round it out a bit
more. There are several other notable '50s - '60s groups and soloists, but
I don't want to waste everyone's time with a list.

A positive indication of "good" music (or so I have heard) is
longevity. Who would have thought 20 years ago that the Beatles would
still be leading the all-time recording sales? It would be interesting in
200 years to see if people still listen to them. I don't think anyone will
ever think that the Beatles or the above artists have nearly the complex or
involved music of the "masters," but their creativity and ingenuity - along
with their ability to spark worthy, emotional reactions from even the most
ardent and straight-laced professional musicians (my dad would kill me if
he knew I was reporting his enjoyment of some of the rock artists of the
day!) indicates that there might well be more to great music than it's
complexity.

We have an oldies station here in central Illinois - and we keep the car
radios tuned to it. Occassionally we listen to other stuff - Mozart,
Beethoven, Strauss, Hindemith, and an occassional band CD - boy I love
those marches! - but usually not. Maybe it's all the car shows - I don't
know - but the '50s and '60s rock-n-roll is awfully fun stuff.

I like Charlie Parker too - and other legends like him. And if you want to
talk big band, I have a Duke Ellington recording that will discussed in an
international publication for Ellington that may very well change the
entire discography/history (not to mention turning point in Ellington's
prominence in jazz history - such as the Newport concert only a few days
following the recording I have). Beyond that, I enjoy big bands from the
'40s through Buddy Rich (and later...). It's just that I don't listen to
that music as much as the other stuff. I don't know why............

Best wishes,
Roger Garrett

Roger Garrett
Clarinet Professor
Director, Symphonic Winds
Illinois Wesleyan University
School of Music
Bloomington, IL 61702-2900
Phone: (309) 556-3268
Fax: (309) 556-3121

"A man never discloses his own character so clearly as when he describes
another's."
Jean Paul Richter (1763-1825)

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