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 classical tone?
Author: clarinetgiggirl 
Date:   2004-01-14 10:52

Hi,

I am learning to play jazz - its the music I like most of all, especially traditional jazz.

Several people have commented that I have a 'classical tone' and have asked if I have every learnt classical music. I did at school, but that was 20+ years ago!

Can anyone enlighten me? What is meant by a classical tone as opposed to a jazz one? How do I get a jazz tone?

Thanks in advance.

CGG

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 Re: classical tone?
Author: sfalexi 
Date:   2004-01-14 11:02

Perhaps you have a very focused tone. That tends to be a plus when playing classical music (and so is sought after by many classical clarinetists). If it bothers you and you are looking for a "jazzier" tone, perhaps you need a more open mouthpiece with soft reed combination. So you can do some scoops, bends, vibrato if you'd like, etc. much easier. What mouthpiece are you using now?

Alexi

US Army Japan Band

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 Re: classical tone?
Author: BobD 
Date:   2004-01-14 13:37

I'm wondering what "traditional jazz" is.

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 Re: classical tone?
Author: JimV 
Date:   2004-01-15 04:00

BobD wrote "I'm wondering what "traditional jazz" is".

The best explanation I could find is below. ----- Jim


[ Text deleted - Do not copy articles verbatim. Use a link to Stan Klein's site:

http://cpcug.org/user/sklein/jazzfaq.html - GBK ]

[ If a link isn't possible, then at least an attribution is required for a quote. Mark C. ]

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 Re: classical tone?
Author: ron b 
Date:   2004-01-15 06:19

The more I look into the subject, the more I also wonder just what 'traditional jazz' is too, BobD. All the Jazz (I prefer the term "improvisationalists") players I've known, and a few I've read about, tried to get the best tone they could. They play scales and arpeggios as they doodle and noodle and some even like to read from method books to improve their technique. During their 'listening time' an awful lot of 'em listen to classical music.
George Lewis, about as "traditional" (according to the books and articles written about him) as one could get, when I met him loved classical music and Benny Goodman - didn't care much for Rock 'n' Roll. He told me this during one of his several summer visits to California for health reasons. He didn't think of himself in any particular category - other people did that for him. He didn't complain - it was good for lots of steady work that paid pretty good.

- r[cool]n b -



Post Edited (2004-01-15 06:20)

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 Re: classical tone?
Author: clarinetgiggirl 
Date:   2004-01-15 10:57

Gosh, music is never straightforward is it!

I think Alexi may be right though - perhaps I need to work on my vibrato etc. I currently use a Vandoren B45 but will look at a more open mpc - thanks for the advice.

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 Re: classical tone?
Author: sfalexi 
Date:   2004-01-15 11:19

Clarinetgiggirl,

Been doing some thinking about how I worded it above, and I just want to clarify, I wasn't saying it was a bad thing! I was only saying that perhaps that's what they meant and some solutions as to what they might interpret as a "jazz" sound.

I just received the CD "The Clarinetist" volume I (Paquito D'Rivera). He's got a GOURGEOUS tone, focused, with little vibrato (on the few tracks that I've listened to so far). And noone is going to deny that he's not a good jazz player.
Should I even begin on Eddie Daniels and his wonderful "classical" tone?

I don't think you should worry about your "classical" sound. Just work on your jazz.

Alexi

US Army Japan Band

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 Re: classical tone?
Author: clarinetgiggirl 
Date:   2004-01-15 13:44

Thanks Alexi.

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 Re: classical tone?
Author: William 
Date:   2004-01-16 15:01

I always try to think of "tone" as sound and "jazz" or "classical" as style, and always strive to play with my best possible sound and play the music in front of me--or eminating from my head--with the appropriate style it requires. For me, there is no such thing as "jazz" or "classical" sound, but rather acceptable or unacceptable (intolerable-??) sound.

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