 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2012-04-09 06:59
I was watching a clip of Woody Allen playing, and I noticed for the first time that he plays an Albert system clarinet. Does anybody know what make/ model it is?
Tony F.
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Author: dubrosa22
Date: 2012-04-09 09:39
According to the documentary 'Wild Man Blues' from the late 90s I think he had Buffet make an Albert system 'just like the $12 Rampone I had when I was a kid'
Nice film, recommended
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Author: Guy
Date: 2012-04-13 02:22
@dubrossa22: Thanks much for the suggestion; "Wild Man Blues" can be seen in its entirety on YouTube (10 segments). Very compelling. Part I liked most was Woody, exasperated by his "dead" clarinet, visits the Buffet factory, where he becomes smitten by a metal clarinet and asks to buy it. The Buffet rep says no, that it is part of their history. You get the idea Woody is not used to being turned down. The metal horn sounds pretty good, though it probably isn't in the most competent hands when Woody gives it a go.
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Author: dubrosa22
Date: 2012-04-13 03:25
"The metal horn sounds pretty good, though it probably isn't in the most competent hands when Woody gives it a go."
Yes! It was hilarious!
His tone certainly improved on the metal Buffet but he's tone still sounded like an adanoidal soprano sax
I also loved how after getting the bore of his clarinets opened by BUffet one of his bandmates asks Woody:
'How does it sound?'
'Oh, it's the same.'
Classic!
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Author: BobD
Date: 2012-04-13 11:54
Woody's tone when playing that clarinet is the result of having his tongue in his cheek.
Bob Draznik
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Author: ned
Date: 2012-04-16 05:30
dubrossa writes: ''His tone certainly improved on the metal Buffet but he's tone still sounded like an adanoidal soprano sax''
Ever heard of Klezemer clarinet tone? It's not particularly to my liking, but it's genuine enough, so is WA's.
Bob Draznik wrote: ''Woody's tone when playing that clarinet is the result of having his tongue in his cheek.''
You could be right Bob, but my guess is he's fair dinkum.
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Author: dubrosa22
Date: 2012-04-16 08:41
@ned
I regularly listen to tons of klezmer from Brandwein to Tarras to Statman to Krakauer to Ben Goldberg. Classic to modern to 'radical' klezmer - and to my ears none sound like Woody. Even on their worst day.
Klezmer isn't the style he's emulating anyway. New Orleans Jazz-band is a long way removed from Eastern European klezmer!
The closest thing I've heard to Woody's tone is that guy who plays the carrot clarinet! (youtube it)
All in all I think Woody certainly has mastered the early New Orleans jazz clarinet sound - it's just not my cup of tea.
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Author: chris moffatt
Date: 2012-04-16 12:57
I'm thinking early NO clarinet players didn't really sound like WA does. Deficiencies in recording equipment used back then might make it sound so; but many of those guys had at least some classical training - some of them from Lorenzo Tio Jr.
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Author: ned
Date: 2012-04-17 12:38
dubrossa writes: ''All in all I think Woody certainly has mastered the early New Orleans jazz clarinet sound - it's just not my cup of tea.''
I'm unsure if you dislike WA or NO jazz clarinet?
I was not actually comparing WA's tone to Klezmer, I was just saying that Klezemer clarinet is not to my liking because...........I could say, that this type of music (to paraphrase your own comment), ''still sounded like an adanoidal soprano sax''...........but of course, I won't.
chris moffatt writes: ''I'm thinking early NO clarinet players didn't really sound like WA does''
I guess WA could take that as a compliment.
As a jazz player myself I can confidently say that we all start off by copying our heroes..........some make it an art form(intended pun) and can play famous solos note-for-note, others branch off from their heroes and create something different, perhaps WA is of the latter bunch.
This bloke has been through the wringer on this board so many times, I'd like a buck for each negative comment.
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Author: Alexis
Date: 2012-04-17 13:34
I'm quite glad he sounds different to everyone else.
No-one is forced to watch him!
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Author: dubrosa22
Date: 2012-04-17 21:33
@ned
In summary I don't really know if I like NO clarinet because I don't listen to it however I do know I don't like Woody Allen's playing.
Not a big deal.
If you watch 'Wild Man Blues' Woody actually states that he's not a Coltrane making a personal statement tonally and musically on stage instead he's just trying imitate and revive the NO sound. That could be humility who knows?
I like klezmer and classical clarinet myself FWIW.
[Edit - somehow I misspelled 'Coltrane'!]
Post Edited (2012-04-17 21:42)
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Author: ned
Date: 2012-04-18 05:08
dubrossa writes: "In summary I don't really know if I like NO clarinet because I don't listen to it however I do know I don't like Woody Allen's playing.''
I wouldn't say WA's playing represents the full spectrum NO jazz clarinet. I do believe though that he endeavours to emulate the latter day players who never left the city.
Why they never left for the North is any one's guess. Maybe they didn't want to - and as some would say - maybe they didn't have the ability.
There are plenty who DID make it in the big smoke and I suggest that you take the time to listen to the likes of Barney Bigard, Omer Simeon, Albert Nicholas & Irving Fazola, to name just a few of the lyrical players and, for players with a 'hard' edge, check out Johnny Dodds and Edmond Hall. These are some of my favourites.
Check out this website for some samples: it's a little slow to load, by the way.
http://lassecollin.se/jazzfiles/noclarinettists.html
As I have said on this board many times, this is where jazz started, Benny and Artie listened closely to these blokes for inspiration.
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