 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bill G
Date: 2007-05-26 23:49
I have just listened to Tony Scott, "A Jazz Life", recorded when was 85, and watched the accompanying DVD. It is an amazing testament to the fact that jazz can be an extension of an individual soul, a summary of one's personal experience, unfettered by any preconceptions or societal restrictions. For clarinetists it demonstrates that tone is not necessarily bound by any conventions, but can be as expressive as the human voice in its cries, love, joy and reverence. Long live jazz.
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Author: Anon
Date: 2007-05-29 16:04
It must thave been recorded just before his death in late March because he was 85 when he died...I saw the obit in the NYT.
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Author: FrankM
Date: 2007-05-29 16:30
Bill G said:
"It is an amazing testament to the fact that jazz can be an extension of an individual soul, a summary of one's personal experience, unfettered by any preconceptions or societal restrictions. "
I agree....too bad he couldn't do it in the United States.
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Author: buedsma
Date: 2007-05-29 16:57
never understood why he was so "unknown" compared to other players
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Author: Pathik
Date: 2007-05-30 07:49
The world of clarinet has suffered a great loss with the death of Tony Scott. He was not only an absolute master of the clarinet, but also one
of the most unique voices in jazz. Nobody sounds quite like him, nobody has
ever played the way he did, and nobody probably ever will.
To say that he's underrated is an understatement, and I suspect that the only reason he is not more well known is that he played modern jazz on the clarinet (although he did occasionally also play baritone sax). He played World Music and New Age music before those categories of music had even been invented, but it is as a jazz clarinettist he shines the brightest. He had an absolutely incredible control over all aspects of playing the clarinet and his expressive, emotionally charged way of playing never fails to move me. For me, he does indeed occupy the No. 1 position as All-Time Jazz Clarinet Master.....and in my opinion, his only possible rival for that spot is Artie Shaw.
If you are not familiar with the music of Tony Scott, you are missing out on something truly extraordinary. Just about anything I've ever heard by him is excellent, and even though many of his classic recordings are currently out of print, there's still quite a bit to choose from. Some suggestions might be as follows:
- A day in New York. This is a double CD with the incredible one-day session with Bill Evans from November 1957. Contains some unbelievably brilliant clarinet playing. Very fine playing also from Bill Evans, Jimmy Knepper and the rest of the band.
- The album entitled simply Tony Scott from 1967 is wonderful as well. Some of the tracks showcase Tony Scott's World Music sensibilities, such as the opener, Ode to an oud. Also included on this one is Tony Scott's "greatest hit" ever, Blues for Charlie Parker.
- Music for Zen Meditation from 1962 is not jazz, but a beautiful, atmospheric musical mediation performed on clarinet, koto and shakuhachi, recorded in Japan. Very unique, really lovely.
- "A Jazz Life", Tony Scott's last recording is also worthy of consideration. The DVD that comes with it is great - it's about 28 minutes long and was recorded at the sessions for this album, including some interviews with Tony Scott. He looks fabulous - like the Grand Old Man of Jazz Clarinet, or something.....long white hair, long white beard, a true wizard!
Let's hope Tony Scott will one day get the recognition he truly deserves. He was quite simply one of the greatest jazz musicians ever. He had the courage always to go his own way, find new ways to be creative with his music, and to stick with the clarinet, which was considered to be out of date throughout most of his career. He might be gone, but his music will always be with us.
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