 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bill
Date: 2008-01-12 12:56
Fabulosa! Thanks Glenn!
Bill Fogle
Ellsworth, Maine
(formerly Washington, DC)
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Author: William
Date: 2008-01-12 15:32
Benny wasn't the reason I chose to play the clarinet, but he certainly inspired me to practice and try to become a better player. In high school, I wore out the 45 rpm recording of China Boy trying to learn it by ear--and when I finally did, I was given the nickname "Benny" which many of my old high school friends still call me when we meet. When I went to college, I lost the nickname, but the Goodman inspiration continued. Like now, after watching this video twice, I've got to go practice some so I can reach the C7 like Benny did in the vid when I play the Artie Shaw Clarinet Concerto next month with our VFW Band. Play'n Artie but still try'n (after 55 yrs of clarinetting) to be Benny--LOL
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Author: Sea Galan
Date: 2008-01-13 21:54
Thank you GBK. What a wonderful performance. I have played the video many times and each time I hear something new. I feel like taking my clarinet to the pawnshop and taking up the kazoo or maybe the slide whistle. By the way I tried looking for Henry Cuesta (Lawrence Welk Show) CDs and could not find any. Found a few records and even a cassette but no CDs. Any ideas on where I could find some of his music?
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Author: Ed
Date: 2008-01-13 23:37
I have always liked and respected Benny. Like many, his playing was probably one of the first inspirations for me. I always enjoy hearing him. While some may talk about X or Y being the better player, I always find Benny a fun to listen to.
Along with all of that, I have to say that I am always stunned to hear Teddy Wison and Gene Krupa. What incredible players!
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Author: Steve Epstein
Date: 2008-01-14 03:29
Of course it's fabulous, but now that I'm playing in some small bands -- not jazz bands but bands just the same -- I notice other things, like how Teddy Wilson makes up with his left hand for there being no bass player.
Steve Epstein
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Author: Philcoman
Date: 2008-01-15 00:50
Oh man oh man. What else can I say? Benny was my first inspiration, and still when I hear him play I'm torn between playing up a storm and throwing my instrument across the room. Thanks for pointing us to this!
"If you want to do something, you do it, and handle the obstacles as they come." --Benny Goodman
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Author: Steve Epstein
Date: 2008-01-15 01:07
Steve Epstein wrote:
> Of course it's fabulous, but now that I'm playing in some small
> bands -- not jazz bands but bands just the same -- I notice
> other things, like how Teddy Wilson makes up with his left hand
> for there being no bass player.
>
My point being, that if you don't play with the right people, even Benny wouldn't have sounded that good. Of course he'd sound good, but he sounded better in the context with whom he was playing.
Steve Epstein
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Author: Travis
Date: 2008-01-29 22:46
Initially my desire to play clarinet came from Shaw and Goodman. Then I took a chance on buying the 4disc Sidney Bechet boxed set from Proper Records (a real bargain). I had never heard of Bechet but saw several familiar songs (Bugle Call Rag, One O'Clock Jump, etc.) so I figured I'd try it out. What I heard was unlike anything I had ever heard before in jazz/swing. The ferocity of Bechet's playing on his early recordings like "Maple Leaf Rag" and "I've Found a New Baby" is unbelieveable! Yet his clarinet playing on blues numbers like "Up In Sidney's Flat" and "Blue Horizon" show such feeling and mastery of his instrument. I still love Shaw and Goodman and Noone and Bigard (Mezzrow is really the only clarinetist of that era whose tone I find rather shrill and disagreeable) but Bechet stands out as a true master. Check out his version of "China Boy" with Muggsy Spanier...brings tears to my eyes every time.
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