 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Camanda
Date: 2004-12-08 00:15
My jazz band is doing Ellington's "Caravan", reason being that we came in dead last at Berklee last year, and he knows he can bump us up a few slots if we have more soloists and represent as many sections as possible. Of us, this requires solos on bari sax, clarinet, and trombone, to which he added trumpet and alto sax. Long story short: two people in jazz band play clarinet, one is the bari sax player, she's stuck with that solo, I got the clarinet solo.
I've done my fair share of jazz solos, but they've all been on saxophone. Thus, I have a couple of questions, and I know someone can help me out, so here they are.
1. It's not morally (in clarinet terms) wrong for me to use a different mouthpiece for jazz playing, correct? My current mouthpiece is fine for Wind Ensemble, but it's far too closed for me to work with in jazz. I have a Lakey 6*3 for my tenor, I love the open facing, and I'd like that in a clarinet mouthpiece. I don't know if there are any adverse effects to this. I am aware that a drop in reed strength is necessary if I have a more open mouthpiece.
2. Is it possible to go too high in a solo? I do like my altissimo, but I don't want it to kill anyone! The written solo in my part, which I am ignoring, only goes up to first D above the staff.
I'm going to see my teacher tomorrow, and I prefer to work on this instead of the Weber I have been doing for what feels like a thousand years, so I can get some more ideas and suggestions then. I do like to hear the input of the experienced members of this BBoard, however! Thanks in advance!
Amanda Cournoyer
URI Clarinet Ensemble, Bass Clarinet
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Author: John O'Janpa
Date: 2004-12-08 00:36
If it sounds good do it.
Open mouthpieces and softer reeds are often used to give a jazzier sound and to facilitate "bending".
If you can play a high note with decent tone and intonation it shouldn't maim anyone.
If both you and your teacher think it sounds good, go for it.
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Author: ned
Date: 2004-12-08 01:53
""I do like my altissimo, but I don't want it to kill anyone!""
Why not? It's jazz - let 'em have both barrels.
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Author: Burt
Date: 2004-12-08 02:00
I agree with John's comments.
I've heard solos going up to C several spaces above the staff, and it was appropriate, but don't stay very high very long.
I had a spare mouthpiece modified for jazz. The tip was opened a bit and the chamber was opened. My goal was more volume and more bending with only a small reduction in tone quality.
Enjoy!
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Author: allencole
Date: 2004-12-08 05:57
Well, if it's Caravan, I imagine that you'll want to polish up your G harmonic minor scale, and your C/F#/Eb/A diminished arpeggio--which you should be feeling pretty good with if the Weber you've been working on is the Concertino.
There's nothing wrong with altering your setup for this purpose--just make sure that you have adequate embouchure strength and breath support to keep it going. (because you're going to have less natural resistance to blow against)
I was thrilled the other day to have a student tell me that she talked to the sax player in a rock band that she went to hear--and found out that he was really a clarinet player.
Allen Cole
Post Edited (2004-12-08 05:58)
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Author: ned
Date: 2004-12-08 06:38
Make sure you learn the Barney Bigard solo too - one couldn't do better!
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