 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Michael Kincaid
Date: 2000-05-31 11:42
I have seen many of you mention Eric Dolphy on bass clarinet, so I bought ERIC DOLPHY IN EUROPE VOL.1 (Prestige
0JCCD-413-2 [P-7304]). The CD is short but the last two tracks have Dolphy playing jazz bass clarinet. I had no idea anyone could play a bass clarinet like a Bb. I have read very little about Mr. Dolphy--did he die young? Michael
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Brad
Date: 2000-05-31 13:37
I think that Eric Dolphy died of undiagnosed diabetes when
he was 35 or 36. There is a video out recounting his last
days in Europe. He made great music, but his european
hosts, who could see he was having health problems off stage probably figured he was another strung out junkie
jazzer in exile.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Geoff
Date: 2000-05-31 14:33
Eric Dolphy was amazing as he was a master of three instuments--alto sax, bass clarinet, and flute. His albums on Prestige and his work with Charles Mingus (on Candid) in the early '60s were great, mindblowing.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Lelia
Date: 2000-05-31 16:07
Eric Dolphy's cause of death was officially reported as a heart attack, but untreated diabetes caused the heart attack. He was only 36 years old. Incredible musician--terrible loss. If you look on
All Music
http://allmusic.com
you can find him on more than 100 recordings (not all in print as CDs, though). He's on most of the Mingus recordings. IMHO, a great place to start listening is his jazz classic, "Out to Lunch," which has been re-released as a CD. Search for "Dolphy" on the "klarinet" e-mail archives from this year for more information.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: larry
Date: 2000-06-01 20:20
my favorite dolphy bass clarinet recording is his rendition of "God Bless the Child" recorded, I think, at his last recording session in Denmark (I think). It's transcendent.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Michael Kincaid
Date: 2000-06-03 05:13
Steve Epstein wrote:
Since you are also a lover of alto clarinet, you should look up CD's by this guy.
---------------------------------------------
Thanks, I'll check him out. I'm really enjoying playing alto clarinet--I'd love to hear some jazz on it.
BTW the Hite Alto Mouthpiece seems to be working out just fine.
I still like the alto-sax reeds better than the alto clarinet reeds--I guess it doesn't really matter. Michael
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Lelia
Date: 2000-06-05 16:28
Michael Kincaid wrote:
---------------------------------------------
Thanks, I'll check him out. I'm really enjoying playing alto clarinet--I'd love to hear some jazz on it.
BTW the Hite Alto Mouthpiece seems to be working out just fine.
I still like the alto-sax reeds better than the alto clarinet reeds--I guess it doesn't really matter. Michael
----------------
Thanks for the update on the Hite mpc. I like alto sax reeds on my alto clarinet, too. Haven't heard Joe Lovano's alto clarinet jazz recordings and will definitely check those out! I've never tried playing jazz on my alto clarinet, but -- why not?! Neat instrument, I think -- unique sound, underrated.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Gene
Date: 2005-01-11 06:37
What kind of alto clarinet and mouthpiece did Joe use on his recordings
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2005-01-11 21:21
Enjoy Dolphy's jazz playing for what it is, but for heaven's sake don't try to emulate his tone quality for use in any 'legit' ensemble (concert band, orchestra, or clarinet choir). This may seem to be a ridiculously obvious caveat, but you'd be surprised ---- especially with an instrument like bass clarinet for which there are so few readily-available 'role models' to listen to. That said, Dolphy's technique and improvisations are certainly worth some serious listening.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Sarah
Date: 2005-01-12 01:42
Out to Lunch is a great cd, as is The Illinois Concert. Even though I was first attracted to his music because of his bass clarinet playing, I really enjoy the pieces he plays flute on too.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bill G
Date: 2005-01-12 02:11
Dolphy was superb in his style. Perhaps the greatest jazz clarinest in the world today in the Buddy DeFranco style is Ron Odrich, a New York City periodontist. He played soprano at Clarinetfest in New Orleans, but to me he is utterly unbelievable on bass.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarnibass
Date: 2005-01-13 11:47
"Enjoy Dolphy's jazz playing for what it is, but for heaven's sake don't try to emulate his tone quality for use in any 'legit' ensemble (concert band, orchestra, or clarinet choir)."
Why not?
Well, of course I don't like someone copying from someone else, but I've never heard anyone play classical music in a dolphy-like sound.
If you said don't copy his sound in jazz or try to play like him, I'd agree, but playing in that sound but classical music, that is an interesting and original idea which I would very much like to hear.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2005-01-13 15:17
clarnibass, if you played with Dolphy's sound in any classical orchestra or concert band I was directing, I'd throw you out instantly. His sound is wonderful for jazz, but totally inappropriate for classical music. It would be the equivalent of trying to sound like Acker Bilk on soprano clarinet --- would you want that in YOUR orchestra? Or to use a saxophone analogy, would you play classical alto saxophone on a Berg Larsen 130/0 stainless-steel mouthpiece? --- yes, it would be interesting, but would severely shorten one's professional career.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarnibass
Date: 2005-01-13 19:48
Larsen steel mouthepice - sounds bad to me no matter what you are playing... 
I guess we just look at music in different ways.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
