 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Sylver
Date: 1999-11-15 12:44
I recently bought a CD of Acker Bilk's, and just realized that although quite a few names are raised when jazz is mentioned, such as Benny Goodman and Eddie Daniels (is that correct?), his is never touched. Why is that? From what I heard on the CD and my limited experience of jazz, his playing is not---bad. I would appreciate any comments on this guy.
Thanks!
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Author: William
Date: 1999-11-15 16:12
I too have heard recordings by Acker Bilk and have thought that, while he is NOT BG, ED or PF, he was kind of underated as a musician. Another underated player of the same generation is Boots Randolph--great jazz tenor man. Too bad we sometimes label players for one type of performance and not recognize their true virsatility as musicians.
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Author: Rick2
Date: 1999-11-16 03:38
I have a recording of his that I bought for his one hit. He had a good solid tone but I think (and many agree with me) that his vibrato is excessive. In any event, the man plays elevator music, and that's not exactly where the big money is. Not bad for an ex-con that taught himself clarinet whiling away his time in the brig.
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Author: bigcage
Date: 1999-11-16 09:44
William: I spent a year in Nashville in the 60's and agree with you about Boots. Some of the things he recorded were great, and some of the things he played in his club were fantastic. A very personable human being who had has act together. Another great jazz clarinet is Bob Draga from Tampa. A real dixie player in the style of Fountain.
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Author: John Dean
Date: 1999-11-16 23:29
Sadly Acker has just started chemotherapy for throat cancer but it is hoped that it has been caught in time. A vastly underrated jazz player with a particular sense of humour. His commercial offerings have masked his true position as a great jazzman.Much valued here in the UK.
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Author: Mike
Date: 1999-11-16 23:51
If people play with a style that is not correct ,musical snobs don't like it, even if he has been making a good living playing that way, and I must say playing trad. dixieland style jazz from about 1950 odd.This elevator music
is a good way to keep the non jazz people paying the bills
and keeping your name alive.
As an adult learner if it wasn't hearing Acker playing Strangers on the Shore I would not be trying to play ,and asking questions on this bboard.
I only have his jazz LPS and the live recordings he made ,but I know the style rick2 is talking about and I hate to think
how many millions of this style of music he has sold and so what look at KENNY G.
TO me it sounds like what we call down here the tall poppy syndrome nobody can get ahead with out some people trying to pull them down.
We live in a very small country here in New Zealand but the
English jazz bands are best known apart from Benny Goodman
etc so for me his style of jazz is great he may not play as well as some but boy can he play.
And don't beleave all the publicity you read about him
alot of it is a bit of fun.
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Author: Mike
Date: 1999-11-16 23:55
I missed your posting JOHN this is very sad news.
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Author: Rick2
Date: 1999-11-17 04:12
Mike, be careful not to put words in my post. I never said that I don't like him or his elevator music (in fact, I do). He was an outstanding musician, and it's not everybody that can adapt music from the Beatles to clarinet and have it sound like it was written for the instrument. Very talented, but still too much vibrato IMHO. BTW, to me the Kenny G argument is moot. He plays soprano sax and it's a very different animal, and his style of music is completely different.
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Author: Boots
Date: 1999-11-17 23:37
I enjoyed reading all the posts about Acker Bilk and I too think he's a great player. Just some added info...I remember reading somewhere that his real name is Stanley, but in the early days started recording for a small record label called "Acker" records, and adapted that name. He had hopes to be a classical artist, but his sound and style lended itself toward the traditional and pop genres. I love his warm sound, vibrato and all, and he should be recognized as equally important in the players circle with all the others of this century.
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Author: Rick2
Date: 1999-11-18 02:49
Acker was a British slang similar to the Australian "mate."
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Author: Sylver
Date: 1999-11-18 14:58
Thanks everyone, for all the info.
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