 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Rich
Date: 2002-04-10 20:01
I'm a 68 year old, New Orleans and Trad enthusiast. I started playing clarinet at the age of 62, have had some lessons, and read poorly.
Living in a small town gives me little access to mentors for this style of music, and the classically trained musicians I've consulted with seem to give the same advice regarding ensamble playing "chords and circle of fifths"! Right now, when I play along with recordings and sit in with the one local band, I just play harmony. I do pretty well improvising on solos, doing what comes naturally.
Can someone give me some advice regarding progressing from where I am to getting more into the New Orleans / George Lewis / or even Woody Allen style?
Thanks,
Rich
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2002-04-10 21:06
Maybe pick up some Jamey Aebersold "play-along" recordings to get your general improvisational skills going, and just listen, listen, listen to the players whose style you want to emulate, until it's second nature -- then start playing along with their recordings. Forget the formal exercises --- we're talking jazz here!
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Author: ron b
Date: 2002-04-10 21:18
Hi, Rich 
I knew George Lewis in the early '50s. We spent some time together when he was in California where he used to go for a while during summer months for health reasons. He loved talking about his family and reminiscing about the 'old days', funny and different things he did (besides music) to earn a living, as most of us do. He was fond of classical music, admired Benny Goodman and liked to cook. He was well aware of his own and his bands 'technical limitations' and kept their repetoire within their capabilities. He was a good boss that way - definitely The Leader. He didn't see much difference in their band and other similar ones playing their style. At the time, they'd gotten (inter)national recognition and were able to earn a living doing what they loved - having fun making music.
George was not a good 'note reader' and probably would not get very far discussing circles of anything musical. However, his innate sense of harmony and inventive playfulness kept things together and, as a leader as far as I know, he was well liked/respected.
My brief acquaintance with George affords me no insight or speculation about what he might have said to someone aspiring to play music other than what most other musicians would say... what he in fact said to me; just keep on playin'.
You see, Rich, most musicians I've ever met - the famous and the not so famous - are, for the most part, just like you and me. George didn't see himself, in my opinion, as anyone special with great things to pass along. When I knew him, he hoped to stay well enough to just keep on playin'.
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Author: allencole@jamschool.net
Date: 2002-04-11 05:55
Rich, you're already on the right track. Some of the later Jamey Aebersold things like "Swing Swing Swing" and "Indiana" have some of the older tunes, although I don't know if they're in the traditional keys. I think that your playing along with other players is the better solution. If you're looking to stretch yourself, try transcribing a solo onto paper or maybe learn some theory.
One terrific thing that you're doing is playing some harmony. There is such a thing as too much noodling, and many groups enjoy having a clarinet player that can harmonize a bit on the ensemble passages.
If you want some guidance, but live in too small a town, try and locate a player active in your style in a larger city. If you are good at keeping your nose to the grindstone day in and day out, I'm sure that you could find someone to visit occasionally who could discuss what you already do, and give you some long-term projects to stretch yourself.
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Author: beejay
Date: 2002-04-11 12:41
Whether he knew the circle of fifths or not, George Lewis's "Jazz at Vespers" is simply some of the best music ever recorded IMHO.
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