 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: jim sclater
Date: 2024-05-04 17:30
I was listening this morning to an old 1957 recording of the Paul Weston Orchestra performing his "Crescent City" (Music of New Orleans.) The clarinet solos on the disc were played by Matty Matlock. If you get a chance to hear this LP or CD, listen esp. to the "Bayou St. John" and the "High Society" cuts. IMO, he had one of the most beautiful sounds ever to come out of a clarinet. I was just wondering if anyone on the list had knowledge of him as a person, or heard him play. I first hear this LP recording in the late'50's, shortly after it came out. At that time he was listed in advertisements for Buffet clarinets as one of their artists. Mr. Matlock certainly was an inspiration for me in my early days on the instrument.
jsclater@comcast.net
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Author: jim sclater
Date: 2024-05-04 17:33
To follow up my previous message, the "Crescent City" recording is on on Youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znaUxY6T7z0
jsclater@comcast.net
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Author: Fuzzy
Date: 2024-05-05 00:10
Hi Jim,
Yes, Matty was part of the Bob Crosby group. Arguably, the best band of the 30s-40s (especially the "core" group with Eddie Miller, etc.) He was one of the arrangers for the group too.
There's a great book on the Bob Crosby band - though I don't have it with me at the moment, and the title escapes me. Especially interesting are the small band portions, how the band came to be. There's a lot of Matty.
Matty was great. To me, his tone can sound thin at times (I prefer the Fazola era of the band), but he was a busy, busy musician, and in-demand. What a gem!
You can find more footage of him by searching for Eddie Miller (tenor). I don't have time to find the links right now, but if you're interested, please e-mail me and I'll respond as I can. I'd love the excuse to refresh my own knowledge by looking through my stuff!
Fuzzy
;^)>>>
P.S. - The American Heritage Center in Wyoming (Laramie) has a piece of the Bob Crosby archive, and I've looked through many original draft arrangements by Matty (some of which are in pencil).
But sadly...I never met him as a person. I think I have a union book with his old address and phone number though!
Post Edited (2024-05-05 00:12)
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Author: Fuzzy
Date: 2024-05-10 23:52
Here's a fun little snippet I heard today in my playlist. I've heard it a million times, but never took time to write it down:
From the Camel Caravan Broadcast, 1940:
"
Bob: Say, while our music shop family album is open to the pages of 10 years ago, customers, throw a lamp at the chapter devoted to Matty Matlock, Matty plays the second clarinet as you enter from the left.
Goodwin: And I see by the footnotes, Mr. Bob, that Matty was first heard from in his hometown of Nashville, TN.
Bob: And that would be under the baton of Maestro Beasley Smith at Nashville's Andrew Jackson Hotel. Matty left the Andrew Jackson to join a band Jackson Teagarden was with. He stepped in as Benny Goodman stepped out. And as the YARS rolled by, as the YARS will do...that band became this band.
Goodwin: And wouldn't you say Mr. Rob, that Matty Matlock of Nashville deserves a 21 gun salute for his contributions to this band?!
Bob: Fire when ready Goodwin! Matty's country clarinet in this dixieland arrangement are something without which we never want to be. Matty's latest contribution is a blues called "That's What I'm Talkin' About, Mama." It's Matty's own arrangement, and you'll hear his clarinet in the second chorus. So here are the Bobcats starting it off, as we introduce, "That's What I'm Talkin' About....Mama."
Fuzzy
;^)>>>
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