 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: FrankM
Date: 2004-04-02 17:29
Have any of the bass clarinet aficionados out there ever thought about a jazz quartet fronted by a bass clarinet? I found an interesting cd by jazzman David Murray ( tenor sax with the World Saxophone quartet and bass with the Clarinet Summit) called “Ballads for Bass Clarinet”. It’s Japanese import, from the looks of the liner notes, but I believe it can be ordered through the usual outlets. The entire cd is on bass....no doubling. Anyway, I usually think of Murray as “leaning” towards what I would call the avant- garde, but this collection of tunes , though not old chestnuts, sound like they could become standards. He improvises beautifully on the bass, and the rhythm section swings. Perhaps Murray shows us the way for bass clarinetists to use the bass more in jazz combo situations…for “elegant” gigs, maybe?
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2004-04-02 17:49
I've played some bass clarinet in combo settings and frankly, tenor sax has more dynamic and emotional range in a small-group jazz setting and is much easier to play (I think) --- though it's fun to do the standards on bass clarinet as a break in the routine and for some unusual tonal color. My feeling about any of the clarinets in combo jazz, though, is that it gets monotonous and tiring to listen to after a while --- even with a great player such as Buddy deFranco, etc. on the bandstand --- I can listen to jazz sax for a lot longer without getting bored -- but that's just me.
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Author: jim lande
Date: 2004-04-03 03:36
David Murray has a bass clarinet piece on several of his CDs. He played DC a few years back with some local musicians and was absolutely fabulous. He played one bass clarinet song each set.
If you like Murray, you might also check out Hamiet Bluette, who also played with the World Sax Quartet. He uses a contra alto clarinet on some cuts.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2004-04-05 08:40
i just recently heard louis sclavis when i thought no on can sound as good as eric dolphy. sclavis is simply amazing. his best CD in my opinion is double trio (sadly i can't find it in my country). it's 2 trios - 1 is bass carinet & 2 Bb clarinets. the other is the arcado string trio - violin, cello, and contrabass (with mark dresser on bass and mark feldman on violin). it's really 1 of the best things i've ever heard. sclavis also plays Bb clarinet and soprano saxophone, but just like eric dolphy, he doesn't sound like a sax player trying to struggle with bass clarinet. his technique is beyond imagination (like all players on this CD), the compositions are very good, and the improvisations are very interesting and unique. if i'm already recommending this CD, if anyone knows about a place i can order this to israel i will appreciate it a lot. maybe if someone is from france here they know a big CD store i can order from?
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Author: DougR
Date: 2004-04-05 13:16
My favorite jazz bass clarinetist is Bob Brookmeyer. Of course he plays valve trombone, not bass clarinet, but when I'm playing bass clarinet in a jazz idiom, that's who I hear in my head. He did a CD with (guitarist) Jim Hall, live onstage at the North Sea Jazz Festival, just the two of them, playing a bunch of standards, and for lyricism and intuitive interplay, you can't beat it. For my money, Brookmeyer is one of the more unfortunately overlooked jazzmen, with a long career of playing witty, highly melodic, deeply personal, unfailingly inventive jazz, and his warm, burry sound and tonal range are so close to my idea of what jazz bass clarinet can sound like, that he's my total frame of reference on bass. Check out his website! (Also, he's got a book of jazz solo transcriptions out, perfect for bass clarinetists wanting to improve their bass-clef reading, and smooth out the transition over the break.)
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Author: Tom J.
Date: 2004-04-06 00:19
If you really want to hear great Jazz bass clarinet you must hear Eric Doplhy, arguably the greatest Jazz doubler of all time.
Fortunately he made many recordings, I especially recommend "Last Date", made in Europe shortly before his untimely death.
Tom J.
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Author: FrankM
Date: 2004-04-06 12:30
I have an Eddie Daniel's cd entitled "Blue Bossa" ( maybe originally issued as an album under Bucky Pizzarelli's name?) where he plays bass on the title tune....as you would expect, he's incredible....I wish he'd play more bass.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2004-04-06 14:52
Bob Mintzer plays a pretty mean bass clarinet too --- he's done some excellent albums playing b.c., especially the ones with Don Grolnick on piano.
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Author: FrankM
Date: 2004-04-06 15:04
Dave S. ...would that be with the Yellow Jackets or a different group? I'd like to check them out ...I love his tenor playing!
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2004-04-06 16:14
Bob Mintzer has led or been a sideman on many album dates long before (and since) his association with the Yellowjackets --- just do a search on his name for a discography.
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