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 You know who can't play the Bass Clarinet? Acker Bilk.
Author: Igloo Bob 
Date:   2004-07-02 09:51

I don't want to call it "bad", but I don't know quite what else to call it. I'm sure if I could get past his extremely airy sound on the Bass, I might enjoy his technique or y'know, whatever he's good at. Sure, he's very jazzy, but so is Dolphy (and Dolphy has a beautiful sound). I received a recording of Acker playing the Bass from a friend, it was simply labeled "Acker Bilk - Bass Clarinet". The one high point is when he plays into the upper clarion and nails them perfectly with a beautiful tone, near the end of the recording. Something I wouldn't expect from someone sounding so airy on anything lower than that. Curious about him, I ran a search, and discovered a couple Soprano recordings from what looks to be a CD called "The Magical Clarinet of Acker Bilk". He doesn't sound so bad on soprano (not a sound I personally enjoy, and seems to sound a lot like an Alto Sax on many occasions, but not "bad", really), it just seems to be on the Bass. From what I read, he was a huge jazz clarinetist in the '60's? I'm all for "find your unique sound" but his is just a bit too unique for my tastes...



Post Edited (2004-07-02 10:00)

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 Re: You know who can't play the Bass Clarinet? Acker Bilk.
Author: sbbishop 
Date:   2004-07-02 14:53

Bilk is the guy who recorded "Stranger On The Shore" when it became a top hit many years ago. He is from England.

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 Re: You know who can't play the Bass Clarinet? Acker Bilk.
Author: William 
Date:   2004-07-02 14:54

For me, the bottom line is: AB has made a lot more money with his sound that "nobody likes" than I ever will with my sound that everyone says they like. His success in the very uncertain world of show and music business deserves our respect.

And anyone who can "nail" those clarion notes " on bass clarinet (and with a "beautiful tone") gets my respect every time!! (I have not heard the recording, but I'm taking your word for it)

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