The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: TDC
Date: 2002-08-29 14:02
I read a post here about hobbys of wind players, and I remembered being told a B.G. story. Seems his wife (Miss Hammond, if you remember) grew tired of Benny practicing all day, and told him he should take up a hobby.
"Go next door," she said, "And talk to Fred. He does woodworking. Maybe you'll like it too."
So Benny went over. Fred was making a picnic table. Benny sat on a bench swinging his legs to and fro, watching Fred lugging 2 X 10's around and sweating like hell over the heavy lifting.
Finally, Benny said,
"Why don't you make a clarinet?"
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Author: William
Date: 2002-08-29 14:20
And Fred replied, "yes, I would......but satisfying clarinetists is no picnick."
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2002-08-29 19:06
I'll look to see if that story [and response] is in my BG book. Not improbable, IMHO, since all great musicians are WAGS also. Don
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Author: ron b
Date: 2002-08-29 20:36
To which Benny was quick to inquire, "Do you think you could at least make me a decent reed with that thing over there?"
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Author: David Dow
Date: 2002-08-30 03:05
An interesting anecdote is when Goodman brought some freinds over to rehearse some chamber music to his they commented that it was quite cool. goodman replied, "Just a sec."
After breifly leaving the room he came back in with a sweather and proceeded to rehearse!
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Author: GBK
Date: 2002-08-30 03:17
My absolute favorite Goodman anecdote:
When Benny Goodman took his band to Russia in 1962, the tour was filled with the usual amount of tension (mostly from Benny) and from the Russian officials.
When Zoot Sims returned back to the United States after the tour was over, he was asked what it was like to play with Benny in Russia.
His answer: "Every gig with Benny is like playing in Russia." ...GBK
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Author: William
Date: 2002-08-30 15:24
The answer is NO--the project was permanently benched.
(sorry, I just could not resist--back to long tones)
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