 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: redwine
Date: 2008-04-26 09:10
Hello,
A sad day indeed. Actually, I didn't realize he was still alive!
He's in my top 5 of all-time jazz clarinetists.
Ben Redwine, DMA
owner, RJ Music Group
Assistant Professor, The Catholic University of America
Selmer Paris artist
www.rjmusicgroup.com
www.redwinejazz.com
www.reedwizard.com
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Author: redwine
Date: 2008-04-26 20:57
Hello,
OK, here goes, with all the disclaimers about opinions...
In an attempt at order of preference, although that probably shifts around, based upon who I'm listening to at the time:
1) Artie Shaw
2) Art Pepper (he didn't play much clarinet, but what he did play was perfect)
3) Jimmy Giuffre
4) Al Gallodoro
5) Ken Peplowski
6) Jimmy Hamilton
7) Buddy DeFranco
8) Paquito D'Rivera
9) Barney Bigard
10) Benny Goodman
Ben Redwine, DMA
owner, RJ Music Group
Assistant Professor, The Catholic University of America
Selmer Paris artist
www.rjmusicgroup.com
www.redwinejazz.com
www.reedwizard.com
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Author: Roger Aldridge
Date: 2008-04-27 15:38
One of my memories of Sunday afternoons at the Jazz Workshop in Boston during the 60's was hearing the Jimmy Giuffre trio with Paul Bley (piano) and Steve Swallow (bass). During a break I had a chance to look over Jimmy's music (checked out his methods of notation) and talked with Steve Swallow. What a group!
Ben, if you don't mind I'll contribute several more names. With these additions your list is very close to my list.
John LaPorta (how can folks overlook him?!!!)
Phil Woods
Gene Quill
I, too, have a long list of clarinet heros. I have great admiration for the ones you listed.
Roger
Post Edited (2008-04-27 17:27)
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Author: redwine
Date: 2008-04-27 21:14
Hello Roger,
Thanks. I've never heard of John LaPorta or Gene Quill. I'd love to hear them. Are they still living?
I heard Phil Woods play clarinet only once and it was about 4 years ago in Utah at the ICA convention. Honestly, he sounded pretty bad.
Ben Redwine, DMA
owner, RJ Music Group
Assistant Professor, The Catholic University of America
Selmer Paris artist
www.rjmusicgroup.com
www.redwinejazz.com
www.reedwizard.com
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Author: Roger Aldridge
Date: 2008-04-27 22:37
Ben,
It's my understanding that Phil has been in poor health for a number of years. There are any number of recordings where he plays stunningly beautiful clarinet. He has a distinctive sound. I can always tell it's Phil. A lovely example of Phil's clarinet is the recording of Bill Evans with the Gary McFarland Orchestra -- consisting of a chamber string ensemble, alto flute, clarinet (Phil), McFarland on vibes, and rhythm section. It's been reissued and should not be a problem to find. This is truly gorgeous music. I've spent many an hour listening to it over the years and discovering new gems in the compositions and solos.
Sadly, John and Gene are no longer with us. John LaPorta is known for teaching at Berklee for close to 40 years. (For years, Joe Viola, Herb Pomeroy, and John LaPorta were Berklee's core.) John was a composer of great capacity and an alto/tenor saxophonist & clarinetist. After posting the message about John on the forum I got out one of his recordings and listened to it. John has superb clarinet chops. However, it's his musicality and melodic construction that are so impressive. Many times when I'm listening to John LaPorta's playing I break out laughing from sheer joy. Tracking down his recordings will be worth the effort.
Gene Quill, like Art Pepper and Phil Woods, was a top-notch alto sax player. His work on clarinet is quite impressive too. Some good examples of Gene's clarinet are found on recordings of the Gerry Mulligan Concert Jazz Band. The band's recordings were collected a year or two ago by Mosiac Records and put in a 4-CD box set. Gene had a beautiful dark clarinet sound that speaks to me as does his style.
Going back to Jimmy Giuffre, he made quite a list of contributions to jazz. One of the things that I admire about him as a composer is how he incorporated aspects of contemporary classical composition with jazz in ways that feel natural and unassumming. In other words, it sounds like Jimmy Giuffre. That, in itself, says a lot.
Roger
Post Edited (2008-04-28 02:02)
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Author: FrankM
Date: 2008-04-28 14:46
Doesn't Eddie Daniels make "the" list? He's coming to a festival near me in a couple of months and I can't wait to catch him live.
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Author: redwine
Date: 2008-04-28 17:21
Hello,
Daniels was a big influence in my early jazz development. For me, he's probably in the next list of 5. After playing and listening to jazz seriously for quite a long time, my own preference has migrated toward the earlier styles of jazz. More modern jazz does not hold my interest very long, and Daniels definitely fits in that category for my ears.
He's technically amazing, and you should definitely not miss the concert. After hearing him several times live, however, I began to lose interest in his style of playing. To each their own.
Ben Redwine, DMA
owner, RJ Music Group
Assistant Professor, The Catholic University of America
Selmer Paris artist
www.rjmusicgroup.com
www.redwinejazz.com
www.reedwizard.com
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Author: FrankM
Date: 2008-04-28 18:04
I ashamed to say I ignored the old timers until fairly recently. I guess I somehow viewed the progression of jazz as something akin to the evolution of species…as in , the old ones are “primitive” in comparison to today’s species(clarinetists) After really checking out Sidney Bechet, I realized I have been ignoring some real giants of the instrument…..men who can hold their own with anyone playing today. My collection now includes many of the old timers…..they certainly had plenty to “say” !
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Author: DougR
Date: 2008-04-28 18:56
If you check on used-LP websites for "Jazz Mission to Moscow," you'd find at least one cut with some very tasty Phil Woods clarinet. (This was an album recorded by musicians from Benny Goodman's 1963 Russia tour who were fed up and frustrated by Goodman's obstinacy, pig-headedness and hogging all the solos for himself. Al Cohn, I believe, did the arrangements--including a dirge-like "Let's Dance" to which Phil contributed a nice sunshiney clarinet solo.)
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