 The Doublers BBoard
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Author: rcnelson
Date: 2010-10-06 14:36
Both past and present, who are they? To qualify, you have to have near equal command of both instruments and were in high demand on both. From the past, you must include Al Gallodoro and Jimmy Abato. Among our present friends, there are many but I hesitate to list them in fear of missing a few that rank very high on this list.
Thoughts?
Ron
Selmer Mark VI tenor (1957), Selmer Mark VII alto (1975)
Buescher True Tone soprano (1924), Selmer CL210 Bb Clarinet, Gemeinhardt 3SHB Flute, Pearl PFP105 Piccolo
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Author: oboeidaho
Date: 2010-10-06 16:27
Why limit this to just clar/sax? I'm way more impressed by people with a solid command of ALL (or most) of the woodwinds - like my cyber friend Bret Pimentel. Most of us are familiar with his doubling in Broadway shows page, but he recently gave a recital playing flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and alto sax - wow!
I don't know top people in the county, but certainly in my area I know some great doublers - and I usually need people (for subs) who can play at least clar/sax and flute (to cover oboe parts) since there is a terrible lack of DR doublers in this area.
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Author: Jaysne
Date: 2010-10-06 23:00
Al Regni. He played on the original West Side Story show on Broadway on
alto, clarinet, flute, and piccolo. Here's info from his website: "Albert Regni, is presently the principal saxophonist with the New York Philharmonic, New York City Ballet Orchestras and formerly of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.
Mr. Regni is an active participant in music for television, recordings and film and was recipient of a Gold Record and Grammy recognition for his work on the television series Twin Peaks (tenor sax, flute, alto flute, clarinet). He has played on the soundtracks for over 40 major motion pictures and has recorded a vast array of music from Classical, Chamber, Jazz, Pop, and over 20 Original Broadway Cast Albums as a concert and studio musician in New York City. The acclaimed TV documentary of West Side Story conducted by Leonard Bernstein with Kiri Te Kanawa and Jose Carreras features him as principal solo clarinetist.
He has been a visiting professor of saxophone at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. Associate professor at The University of Texas at Austin, Saxophone Professor at The College of New Jersey and presently is adjunct professor of saxophone at The Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia."
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Author: rcnelson
Date: 2010-10-07 00:51
I intentionally limited it to the clarinet/sax combination because if you add flute and then maybe oboe, a number of folks into my brain: in LA, you have Dan Higgins, Gary Foster, Gene Cipriano, Sal Lozano and others. In NY, there's Lawrence Feldman, Steve Kenyon, Charles Pillow, Dan Willis, Les Scott, John Moses, the list goes on.
And I forgot about Al Regni. And of course our friend, Bret Pimental.
Ron
Selmer Mark VI tenor (1957), Selmer Mark VII alto (1975)
Buescher True Tone soprano (1924), Selmer CL210 Bb Clarinet, Gemeinhardt 3SHB Flute, Pearl PFP105 Piccolo
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Author: Jaysne
Date: 2010-10-08 00:37
I think it'd be pretty difficult to limit such a list to just sax and clarinet. If you're good enough to be well known on those two horns, it wouldn't make much sense not to do flute, too, since being a triple threat brings you more work. If you refuse to learn flute, then someone else is going to get all the doubling gigs.
I think you'd have to go back to the mid-20th century before the commercial studio scene existed to find someone who didn't play flute. Seems that all the big band guys were adept at sax and clarinet, but perhaps not flute. They may have been, but they didn't use it on gigs because the music wasn't scored that way.
Post Edited (2010-10-08 21:41)
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Author: Bret Pimentel
Date: 2010-10-11 02:33
Wow, very flattering to see my name pop up here, but I'm nowhere near the same class as the others who have been mentioned.
Ron, I would say a few of those you mentioned like Dan Higgins, Gary Foster, and Gene Cipriano should definitely be on the list of top clarinet/saxophone doublers, even though they have additional skills on other instruments.
Eddie Daniels is another particular favorite of mine--best known for his clarinet playing, but also a real monster on saxophone.
And the great Sidney Bechet, perhaps? His style on clarinet and soprano (plus a few others) sounds dated now and is a turnoff for some, but I think he's one of the greats.
Bret
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Author: rcnelson
Date: 2010-10-12 00:06
The answer I was looking for (although maybe not expecting) has become obvious...with music economics being what they, the clarinet/sax double is no longer enough. At a minimum, flute is needed and double reeds are valuable if you have the time and talent to master them. Therefore, no one is REALLY considered to be among the top sax/clarinet doublers.
Thanks, Bret and Jaysne, for your comments. However, to all, please feel free to add your thoughts.
Ron
Selmer Mark VI tenor (1957), Selmer Mark VII alto (1975)
Buescher True Tone soprano (1924), Selmer CL210 Bb Clarinet, Gemeinhardt 3SHB Flute, Pearl PFP105 Piccolo
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Author: david sherr
Date: 2010-11-03 19:17
I've recorded Berio's Sequenzas for flute, oboe and clarinet (something no one has ever done) and Messiaen pieces for flute and clarinet and a lot of saxophone solos.
There are samples on my web site, http://www.belairjazz.org and you don't even have to buy the cds to hear them!
Look Both Ways has the Sequenzas and Otherworld Music has the Messiaen pieces.
See how this fits into the "near equal ability" requirement.
Selmer Mk VI soprano and tenor, Yamaha Custom 875 and Selmer "Radio Improved" altos, Buffet Baritone, Buffet E-Flat, B-Flat and A Clarinets, Buffet Bass Clarinet, Haynes and Powell piccolos, Haynes and Powell flutes (two of each),Muramatsu alto flute, Moennig bass flute, Haynes A-Flat piccolo, Loree oboes, Loree and Rigoutat English horns, Rigoutat oboe d'amore, Loree bass oboe.
http://www.belairjazz.org
Post Edited (2010-11-05 16:02)
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Author: oboesax
Date: 2010-11-03 23:35
I would say Marty Nau in the Washington DC area. He was 1st alto sax in the Commodores, and he's also one of or the top jazz clarinetist in the region.
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Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2010-11-04 17:36
My vote goes to Dan Higgins. Even if you take away his great improvisational skills he has a sound on saxophone that is exceptional. This is the type of tone that makes you want to know "who is it" after listening to a sound track from a movie.
Freelance woodwind performer
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Author: rcnelson
Date: 2010-11-05 11:37
I have to agree that Dan Higgins is at or near the top. The fact that he is a great jazz player, could play lead in any big band sax section in the world, and sounds great on any of his woodwinds puts him #1 in LA and perhaps the world.
Ron
Selmer Mark VI tenor (1957), Selmer Mark VII alto (1975)
Buescher True Tone soprano (1924), Selmer CL210 Bb Clarinet, Gemeinhardt 3SHB Flute, Pearl PFP105 Piccolo
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Author: Joseph Tomasso
Date: 2011-11-26 12:19
I think the best way to find a good woodwind doubler is to find someone who is truly a good musician that just happens to play more than one instrument
As someone who double majored in undergrad in clarinet / saxophone and then went on to my MM in multiple woodwinds, I really think the success to being a successful doubler is both time practicing and proportion to your musicianship on your primary instrument. If you're a monster clarinet player, you have the ability to reach that same level of musicianship on oboe, or bassoon, or even trombone with proper time.
Too many people I run into that try the doubling thing end up spread too thin and struggle develop their musicianship as they are held back by too many mechanical constraints of the instruments.
A lot of well known names posted in this thread to look up but have fun searching them out on your own!
Bachelor of Music, Sax/Clarinet Performance (2005, 06)
Master of Music, Multiple Woodwind Performance (2008)
Master of Music, Oboe Performance (2013)
Gainesville Chamber Orchestra (Clarinet)
University of Florida 2010-2011(Visiting Lecturer in Woodwi
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