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Re: Clarinetists who want to play in Jazz Band

Author: Roger Aldridge
Date: 2010-05-17 17:23

It's more common for saxophone players in contemporary large jazz ensembles -- especially, those using original compositions/arrangements -- to play a variety of woodwind doubles such as flutes, clarinet, bass clarinet...even double reeds. The Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra is a good example.

Publishers have a role in how most big band arrangements used in high school and college/university jazz ensembles are written for a 2 altos - 2 tenors - bari sax section as a "standard".

There are composer-arrangers, like myself, who like to create new and different ensemble sounds. Seek them out.

PS....

If a band is interested in trying my samba arrangement but does not have 3 clarinets as doubles, the following alternatives can be used:

1st clarinet -- Clarinet is important.

2nd clarinet -- Soprano sax or trumpet in cup mute (if a band has 5 trumpets).

3rd clarinet -- I've written an alto sax part that is a transposition of the 3rd clarinet part. Another option is for tenor to play the part an octave higher than written (goes into alt range).

Thus, if a band has flute, clarinet, soprano, alto or tenor, and bari this reed section can be used. Of course, it will have a different sound than with using 3 clarinets; but, I expect it will also sound good. The essential idea in this chart is to have a fresh and distinctive ensemble sound in the use of a different sax section configuration than the standard 2 altos, 2 tenors, and bari.

Roger

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