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 Herb Hall Great Dixieland Clarinetist
Author: John J. Moses 
Date:   2006-07-31 04:10

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkFzz-cJLtw

Great Dixieland Jazz Clarinetist Herb Hall with Climax Jazz Band at Peter Appleyard's TV show from Toronto Canada in 1978.

PS Note the "Albert System" Dixieland Clarinet that Herb is playing...!

JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist

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 Re: Herb Hall Great Dixieland Clarinetist
Author: ned 
Date:   2006-07-31 05:51

Thanks for the link JJM, terrific hot playing by HH.

I would have thought the regular player would have sat out though. Two clarinets in jazz band ofter sound like cats fighting. I ''sat in'' with a band earlier in the year, where another guest muso, also, was invited to play ''reeds'', plus the regular bloke (clarinet and tenor sax), who also did not sit out. We ended up with 3 clarinets - and you can imagine the result.

With reference to ''dixieland'' are you referring to HH's playing style or referring to the clarinet itself?

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 Re: Herb Hall Great Dixieland Clarinetist
Author: Merlin 
Date:   2006-07-31 13:05

Interesting seeing that old clip of the Climax Jazz Band. I used to sit in with those guys in the eighties at various clubs around Toronto.

The Appleyard series had some interesting guests from time to time. I was surprised to see it on YouTube, since it was a Canadian TV network show for a while, not a private clip.



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 Re: Herb Hall Great Dixieland Clarinetist
Author: Paul Aviles 
Date:   2006-07-31 13:14

A standard dixie group consists of clarinet, trumpet, trombone, tuba, banjo and drums - kinda like this group. The style is pretty standard with the trumpet usually taking the melody for the head and the other instruments doing their subordinate roles until it's time for the various members to take a solo and blow changes which Hall seems to do with great aplomb.


........Paul Aviles



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 Re: Herb Hall Great Dixieland Clarinetist
Author: John J. Moses 
Date:   2006-07-31 18:31

Hi Ned:
"With reference to ''dixieland'' are you referring to HH's playing style or referring to the clarinet itself?"

I think...both...don't you?
Many of the older Dixieland players used Albert Systems, but recently there has been a resurgence of the "old Albert system" by some of the younger players.
They say it makes Dixieland style playing easier...? I think it just sounds so cool...!
Hall makes it sound so easy, I struggle with my "modern" clarinet every time I'm asked to play "Dixie Style."

JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist

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 Re: Herb Hall Great Dixieland Clarinetist
Author: Don Berger 
Date:   2006-07-31 19:31

Hi JJM, I've played a bit of "mid-conntinent" Dixie, always on a Boehm, which I believe lays best in flat keys, doesn't the Albert "lay well" in # keys. Is that our diff?? Also is H Hall any relative of Edmond? Regards, Don

Thanx, Mark, Don

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 Re: Herb Hall Great Dixieland Clarinetist
Author: Carol Dutcher 
Date:   2006-07-31 21:54

That was wonderful playing. I've had to play with another clarinet player from time to time but we usually switch off, so both are not playing at once.

And the musical question for today is, why is the Albert system easier to play Dixieland on? I have heard two other clarinet players say that. I have never tried an Albert system so don't have the foggiest.

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 Re: Herb Hall Great Dixieland Clarinetist
Author: John J. Moses 
Date:   2006-07-31 22:44

Hi Mark & Carol:
Yes, I think you've made a good point, Mark. I do find it easier to play in those keys on those horns, but there are many other differences.
The Albert has fewer keys, and a very different bore, also usually a more "open" sound.
The Boehm has a more complicated key system, more to work with, but perhaps a nuisance with Dixieland stuff, and a more "focused" sound...usually. Just my opinions.
Again, some younger Jazzers like the "old Albert," which gives them more "freedom" and a more "authentic" sound for their Dixieland gigs.
I don't play the Albert System any more, and I rarely play Dixieland, which is a good thing, so I'm just relaying what I've heard from some of the young Dixieland guys I've worked with. And Carol, it's never "easier" to play Dixieland, it's a real workout on either horn.

JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist

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 Re: Herb Hall Great Dixieland Clarinetist
Author: Chalumeau Joe 
Date:   2006-08-01 01:11

Don Berger asked: "Also is H Hall any relative of Edmond?"

Yes...they were brothers. Their other brother, Robert, also played clarinet, as did their father.

Joe

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 Re: Herb Hall Great Dixieland Clarinetist
Author: Don Berger 
Date:   2006-08-01 13:18

TKS, Ch Joe, I heard Edmond play in a group on/off? BDWY back in the 50's, while attending a tech meeting in NYC , REAl Dixie !! I'm fishing Old Memory for leader name and location . Believe I learned a few tricks then. Don

Thanx, Mark, Don

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 Re: Herb Hall Great Dixieland Clarinetist
Author: dgclarinet 
Date:   2006-08-01 14:03

Very interesting about the albert system and dixieland. I paid for college by playing dixieland...and noticed then that a lot of the older, New Orleans style musicians used alberts. I always figured it was just what they grew up with rather than any choice. I heard way too many great dixieland clarinetists who played boehm to think that the choice of clarinet was anything more than what you grew up on. Interesting thought about the open sound of the albert though. Younger guys trying to get that old New Orleans sound could be influenced by that.
Plus..if you're playing in sharp keys in dixieland, something is wrong.

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 Re: Herb Hall Great Dixieland Clarinetist
Author: ned 
Date:   2006-08-02 07:47

''Many of the older Dixieland players used Albert Systems, but recently there has been a resurgence of the "old Albert system" by some of the younger players. They say it makes Dixieland style playing easier...? ''

''The Albert has fewer keys, and a very different bore, also usually a more "open" sound. The Boehm has a more complicated key system, more to work with, but perhaps a nuisance with Dixieland stuff, and a more "focused" sound...usually''

JJM, regarding your quotes - I'm not sure it makes dixieland easier, another respondent (djclarinet) makes the point that it's ''.......just what they grew up with'', this seems quite logical to me.

As for Boehm having a more complicated key system, this is correct, but I'm not sure it would be a nuisance - not to me anyway - I have wanted a more complicated Albert (ie) an extra low Db key (similar to the full Boehm) to facilitate playing in Ab, which would be a extremely helpful. Interestingly too, I tried an Oehler system for a year or so, but I could not get it to play entirely in tune with itself - it was me or it - take your pick.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
''doesn't the Albert "lay well" in # keys.''

Don, I'm unsure which keys you mean. In jazz parlance and looking at the keyboard:
C# = Db
D# = Eb
F# = Gb
G# = Ab
A# = Bb

For my part then - Db, Ab, Bb & Eb are OK. Gb would be quite a challenge for me on an Albert, and presumably Boehm too, if I played one that is.

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 Re: Herb Hall Great Dixieland Clarinetist
Author: Don Berger 
Date:   2006-08-02 13:25

Hi Ned - What I was referring to re: "keys laying well [easily]", a poor choice of words no doubt !, was ? how many fingers are required for the frequently used notes in the Dixie [12 bar, simple] tunes. Most compositions dont depart [far] from key signatures around the clarinet's C, p.e. G, D for #s, and F, Bb for bs. Compare the number of fingers [their movements, hopefully coordinated] for sounding F nat. [and its 12th, C] and Bb [its 12th is F nat] on the Albert and Boehm horns. Thats about the best explanation I can give re: "how the tune lays on the cl". Others please HELP, Don

Thanx, Mark, Don

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 Re: Herb Hall Great Dixieland Clarinetist
Author: Fred 
Date:   2006-08-03 00:58

As I was watching the flying RH pinkie finger in the video, I was reminded of the comment I made to my father regarding Louis Armstrong when I was but a beginning 12 yr old band student.

"He shouldn't puff his cheeks out like that. That's not the right way to play the trumpet." After all, I HAD been listening in class to my band director!

My Dad wisely replied, "Son, when you can play like that, you can puff your cheeks out if you want to."

Let it fly, Herb . . . let it fly!

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