 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Rev. Avery
Date: 2003-12-18 11:54
I've read a few posts that mentioned B. Goodman played 2 1/2 strength reeds. But, does anyone know which reeds he used? Listening to The B. Goodman Story now and it got me to wondering about this.
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Author: hans
Date: 2003-12-18 21:30
"He used reeds?" (That was my wife's response)
Hans
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Author: Ralph G
Date: 2003-12-18 23:51
Don't know about Goodman's reed choice, but GBK may be right about his playing with the highest bidder:
http://www.corkpad.com/storch.html
________________
Artistic talent is a gift from God and whoever discovers it in himself has a certain obligation: to know that he cannot waste this talent, but must develop it.
- Pope John Paul II
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Author: BobD
Date: 2003-12-18 23:54
Benny had at least one thing in common with Jack Benny
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2003-12-19 18:07
Benny probably used a pretty open piece so I doubt he used too hard a reed...as to individual things he went to Kell for instruction at one point and Kell used really soft cane as well!!
Merry X Mas and Happy Holidays!!!
David Dow
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Author: paulwl
Date: 2003-12-19 19:20
I heard something on the order of 1-1/2! Don't recall the brand name.
Sol Yaged (Benny's own personal Rupert Pupkin) told me he used a 1-1/2 himself, so...???
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Author: Rev. Avery
Date: 2003-12-19 19:26
Yes, it seems I read in the archieves he used 2 1/2. Just curious what kind. But, maybe that's a tough one to find out.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2003-12-19 19:43
During the years of WWII reeds were rather scarce....probably even for BG.
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Author: Henry
Date: 2003-12-19 20:24
From what we have heard of one of Benny's character traits, he probably played plain Rico's because of their modest cost! I assume that once he was famous, he got free samples of any reeds he desired.
Henry
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Author: Rev. Avery
Date: 2003-12-19 21:06
I'm sort of gathering that nobody here likes B. Goodman, the person. So, am I safe in assuming nobody likes his music either?
I love his music myself. However, I read the biography on him and did come away somewhat disappointed about him as a person. The Ken Burns Jazz series section on him leaves one believing he was hard to get along with. But, don't these sort of charcter "faults" and "flaws" seem to be a part of all great musicians in one way or another (if not all, a lot/some)? Or, is it just Goodman that deserves a shunning because of these?
I do wonder if we'd be having different thoughts (and comments) about say, Mozart the person, if we had lived in his time and had more first hand accounts of his going's on and interactions with people close to him. I've read a fair amount about Mozart and he doesn't seem to have been without some character issues himself. But, I sure do love his music
Please don't flame me ![[whoa]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie10.gif)
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Author: Henry
Date: 2003-12-19 21:19
Rev: I cannot speak for everyone but I believe that most people on this board love BG's music and have tremendous respect for his flawless technique, tone and artistry. He is one of the greats, IMHO. He indeed had a few character flaws but that is rather the rule than the exception with geniuses! Most of us don't think of these flaws when we listen to his fabulous music.
Henry
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-12-19 21:41
I don't think that anyone is debating whether Benny had a major influence on music, clarinet artistry, race relations, swing, big band style, as an inspiration to thousands of aspiring clarinetists, etc.. etc.. etc...
However, as we all know he had a few character flaws and peculiarities which have now become the stuff of legend:
"Benny and the Apple"
"Benny and the Xerox machine"
"Benny and Zoot"
"Benny and the borrowed reed"
"Benny and the Dunhill lighter"
"Benny and cigarettes"
"Benny and J.B."
"Benny and the old suit"
"Benny and the cold house"
just to name a few...
The stories read like a TV sitcom...GBK
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2003-12-19 22:00
I'm including my Benny story from a few years ago that appeared on the BB.
As a student at Juilliard in the 1960s, I had all my clarinet service done in NYC by Murray Snyder, a famous Buffet repairman. Murray did repair work for all the new Buffets that came into NYC, and serviced all the major player's horns. I was studying with Bernie Portnoy, and he sent me to Murray.
While Murray was working on my horn, Benny Goodman walked in to pick up a new Buffet that had been sent to him from France. Murray immediately stopped working on my horn, and jumped up to greet Benny. I was blown-away by the legend of the great man, and just stood there with my mouth open. Benny said, "I'm Benny Goodman, who are you?" I said, "I'm John..." Benny interupted and said, "let me try your setup?" And he grabbed my horn, and just played away for a minute or so. He said, "I like it, can I have your mouthpiece and reed?" I told him my teacher, Portnoy, had given me the mouthpiece and I needed it, but he could have the reed. So, Benny took my good reed (a Vandoren #4, adjusted by Portnoy), put it on his mouthpiece and new Buffet, played it, thanked Murray, and walked out!
He sounded great on the new Buffet, whatever mouthpiece was with the horn, and MY REED! I was thrilled, of course, but a little bugged about losing a good reed...even to Benny Goodman. By the way, Murray was also bugged that Benny didn't pay him for the repair work he did on the new horn. Well, that was Benny, and I heard him play a #4 Vandoren.
JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-12-19 22:16
John...I remember when you posted that story a few years ago - great to read it again!
The "Benny and the borrowed reed" story I heard was when Benny, just before a set began, had borrowed Vido Musso's last clarinet reed. He then called out "Bach Goes to Town", a number which featured a 5-clarinet passage.
Musso turned to Benny just before the tune began and said: "I can't play it"
Goodman asked why, and Musso said "No reed"
Goodman's very stern reply: "Then fake it!" ...GBK
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Author: Rev. Avery
Date: 2003-12-19 22:49
"Well, that was Benny, and I heard him play a #4 Vandoren."
John, what a great story! Thank you so much for sharing it. Just wish it could have been me. Although, I would have been a little peeved if he took my reed. Plus, the audacity to ask for your mouthpiece ![[rotate]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley25.gif)
And thanks for the answer to what reed he used - at least once
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-12-20 01:31
Rev. Avery wrote:
> Plus, the audacity to ask
> for your mouthpiece
Well, if you do'nt ask, you'll never know if you could get it will you? I'm sure what Benny might've been thinking was, "If I ask, maybe I'll get it. And if I don't, I don't." He really didn't have anything to lose, did he?
Of course I wouldn't do that but that's my personality. I might've asked if I could buy it off the person, but not "have it"!
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: BobD
Date: 2003-12-20 15:48
Donna Reed maybe. Helen Ward definitely. Being tight is not unique to musicians or genii and it is easy to forgive it in BG....but then I never worked for him. Great stories everyone.
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2003-12-20 18:53
Alexi: An excellent point! Something like that might be worth trying.
Hey, GBK, how about giving me one of your Buffets? After all, you have plenty and would hardly miss it. I won't even demand you ship it by air FedEx ground will be fine. I even have my own mouthpiece, a beautiful brand-new Buffet Crown to use with it. ![[tongue]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie6.gif) Unless, of course, you wouldn't want me to play it with anything less than a Chedeville, or something like that. I easily could be persuaded to accept one.
Thanks and regards,
John
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-12-20 22:42
JMcAulay...I won't give you one of my Buffet clarinets, but I will give you a Benny Goodman Selmer story, one which actually shows his generosity:
Once, while Goodman's band was playing at the Hotel Pennsylvania and Count Basie's band was playing at the Roseland Ballroom there was an impromptu jam session later that night, after both bands finished, at a small club in Greenwich village.
Basie, Lester Young, Freddie Green and a few others were playing when Benny (who brought his clarinet along) decided to join in. Goodman was always very impressed with the soloing and sound of Lester Young and decided to take a few choruses himself. After a while, after Benny had the crowd screaming for more. Lester Young (who also played clarinet) then pulled out his own clarinet - a metal one. Lester's clarinet chops were nowhere near Benny's, but his distinctive soloing style still was apparent.
After Lester finished playing, Goodman, obviously quite impressed handed him his clarinet and said: "Take mine", meaning, keep it.
Goodman was so moved by Lester Young's playing that he handed him a clarinet as a token of respect for his extraordinary musicianship...GBK
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Author: Rev. Avery
Date: 2003-12-20 22:56
Thanks for giving us the story. I forgot all about it. Yes, he loved/appreciated Young's abilities. Me too
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Author: clarinetmama
Date: 2003-12-22 13:49
Can't answer your reed question, but if you want to know more about BG pick up a copy of "Swing, Swing, Swing, The Life and Times of Benny Goodman" by Ross Firestone. While it doesn't tell the already mentioned stories about his "thriftiness" and how nasty he could be there are several tasty stories about Benny. I had no idea he was such a lady's man. We all know how much Artie loved the women, but Benny? Who knew?
Seriously it is a good book and a legitimate one at that. I quoted it several times in my master's thesis.
Jean
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Author: Rev. Avery
Date: 2003-12-22 13:54
Thanks Jean. I did read one about Benny a few years back. I don't remember the title, but this sounds like the one I read?
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Author: jmsa
Date: 2004-04-02 20:07
When it comes to all musicians never confuse the man and the musician!
jmsa
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Author: fredackerman
Date: 2004-04-03 04:41
Joseph, Seems to me, many of the worlds great men had "something" that set them apart from the rest of the crowd. Thomas Edison and Albert Einstein had "quirks", as did [still today] many in the music/art world. Maybe, just maybe, not being like us...makes them so outstanding! I agree with your sentiments.
Fred
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