How can i get a jazzy tone for the clarinet? I've been experimenting and changed my embechure (sp?) and changed my volume and certain points, but i just cant get it! I play my instrument with my soul and spirit so i know that i can make my music just, LIVE, but not through jazz. I know clarint is not ment for jazz(except solos) but thats the point. I want to have a solo on theclarinet for a jazz song because im not all that good on the trupmet (first year trumpet) it the trumpet hurt when i do high notes. I just need help on getting a jazzy tone on clarinet. PLEASE HELP!!!!

I'm not quite sure what you mean by jazzy tone...

I know clarint is not ment for jazz(except solos) but thats the point.

Do the names Jimmy Noone, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, and Eddie Daniels mean anything to you? Although good jazz clarinetists do tend to play with timbres distinctly different from those classical classical clarinets play with (note that Goodman and Daniels play both jazz and classical expertly), you might profitably begin with swing phrasing: As an initial exercise in fluidity, try emphasizing off-beat swing eighths. Also become adept at lipping, and bending pitches.

Well, your first problem is that you are trying to play your clarinet with your soul. That is tricky as the soul has no mass. I would recommend using the mouth.

If you still don't feel jazzy then I would recommend rotating the mouthpiece in the embochure. Don't start off by inserting the clarinet into the mouth reed-up, but more like 90 degrees. Try the reed to one side and then the other. This is the way I get most of my students to open up their sound, which could be good for jazz.

that's the most ridiculous thing i have ever heard.

Don't feed the trolls.

I find Rico reeds give a more Zazzy tone.

Ohhhh! But the tone is very hard to achieve >.< its a big pain anyways

After watching the Jazz Party dancers I wonder that break dancers think they're so clever

listen listen and lisnten to jazz, the more you listen the more of an idea you'll get of how you want to play, I dont think there is a way you can teach someone how to get a jazzy tone, you gotta figure it out yourself

You can experiment with reeds and mouthpieces. Different mouthpieces can give specific tones. My Rico mouthpiece is a B5, says for Jazz and marching band!! Look through the forum you'll find lots of info on mpc. Also jazz players use a different "scale" than classical, throwing in minor thirds etc., and you will find in many pieces instead of (classical) "1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and" timing, they use "and 1 and 2 and 3 and 4". And you might need to find that "soul" in your playing too. Yes, and listen to Jazz clarinet players. The YouTube is full of wonderful players.

PS; listen to the great on You Tube "JOHNNY DODDS 1923-29" one of Louis Armstrong's Hot Seven, wayyyyy baaaack.

I seen a lot of good points already mentioned. so don't mind if I mention them again.
Vandoren has a 5JB mouthpiece that is meant for Jazz it has the largest tip opening 1.47 mm (it uses 1.5 & 2 traditional reeds) Leather Ligature that has different plates.

The basics of Jazz:
-The Shuffle or Swing (in a pair of notes the first note is longer then the second note)
-Foreign Scales not only learn the scales but learn songs from different countries too, polkas folk songs etc. basicaly be a musicologist - in the broad sense of the word.
-The Blues Notes (slighty flattened Major 3rd; slightly flattened Major 7th; and the flattened 5th used as a passing note ei: 4th, flatted 5th, perfect 5th) You can use the Blues note any time not just in a Pentatonic scale, a lot of (people) think Pentatonic scale as a minor scale just missing a 2nd and a minor 6th, but the best way think of a Blues Pentatonic as
[Root note, blues note - b3rd , 4th, 5th, blues note - b7th, octave note.]
The blues note before and after the Root note, and they fall inbetween the Major and minor notes.)
-Dissonance & Resolution
-Riffs collect as many riffs (short phrases) as possible, don't listen only to your own instrument(clarinet) but listen to others instruments and try to pick up things from the sax, trumpet, or guitar etc.

Ok, I'm just a high schooler in my school band; but I'm telling you now there's nothing sweeter than a clarinet trying to jazz things up. I first started to get "the tone" when I played a Gershwin piece - Porgy and Bess. If you find music like that and play you'll understand what I'm talking about, the notes just want to be "jazzed." I guess the best advice I can give is to first get perfect tone on the clarinet, achieve nirvana, practice playing with excellent tone until you get so bored of playing that way you just have to change it up - or jazz it up. Essentially what your doing is bending the pitch while maintaining a bright sound with crisp articulation. Generally the pitch is bent by lowering the jaw slightly so as to open the air stream. Also portamento (a smooth glide into a note from lower pitches)is extremely effective in leading into a nice jazzed up note. For me, playing in a jazz tone is the clarinet unbound. Just have fun, man.

Lots of really good advice here from players of varied experience. I can add to try loosening your bite to drop the pitch and tightening again to raise it (bending the note).Good advice to get the "normal" sound down pat first. Try covering the holes partially at times ("half-holing"it). Combine these things as well as decreasing/increasing the speed of your air flow. This is a good way to eventually master say the Rhapsodie in Blue opening gliss. Only thing I may disagree with is Goodman's mastery of Classical-Have you heard the old LP of him doing the Weber Concerto with the Chicago Symphony? Not very tight. Unrelated side note- My dad once interviewed him in his Manhattan Apt. Goodman had a huge bowl of reeds and would try each one once and toss it until he found what he wanted. A good idea. But I don't advise his other action-filing down his teeth 'til it fit his mouthpiece.