no offense ,but i think jazz clarinet is totally "wrong". Clarinets wern`e meant to play jazz, you take a saxephone to play instead. A jazz clarinet sounds like a saxaphone, espically with the vibrato.
Jazz clarinet is just sounds bad.
The stuff Acker Bilk plays sounds like a sax, even though he`s playing clarinet.

"A jazz clarinet sounds like a saxaphone, espically with the vibrato.Jazz clarinet is just sounds bad....."

I totally disagree with this statement. I hear Benny Goodman and Artie Shaws` CD everyday ! I don`t know how a jazz clarinet sounds like a sax.

Well in my humble opinion, I believe any instrument has a unique sound and would not be created if it did not please at least a group of people. In addition to this, the jazz clarinet would have stopped being sold if nobody purchased the item. Due to the above and many more reasons such as taste of music and musicality, it is my understanding that the one who commenced this thread is incorrect in his comments but he is entitled to an opinion. The sound of a jazz clarinet has never been blown before me so my thoughts should not be taken strongly or offensively.

Wish you all a happy new year.

clarinets played jazz before the sax came along but i love them both!

I`ve never liked the jazz clarinet sound, it sounds too much like a saxophone. I do play some jazz on the clarinet, but my sound is similar to my classical sound, it just has a bit more of an edge to it. If I wanted a typical jazz sound all I would have to do would be to pinch my reed as hard as I could and use ridiculous amounts of vibrato.

It`s quite a personal opinion if jazz clarinet sounds bad. Many people in this country like jazz clarinets, otherwise those CDs of Artie Shaw and Benny Goodman will not be seen in the music stores. (Benny Goodman died in 1986. Artie Shaws is now over 90 and most of his recordings were made in between 1930 to 1960.)

It`s the same that some people don`t like classical music and said something bad about it. People are free to express their own opinion. But it is no good to say that jazz clarinet lovers are all G*Y as posted earlier in this thread. My teacher plays a buffet E13 and it sounds great for jazz.

I`d like to take a moment and acknowledge that there are many different types of jazz; some of which are good with clarinet and others that aren`t quite.

Take swing with a big band--the clarinet is used most every time. Its sound (similar but deffinitly not identical to the saxaphone) blends in with the sax section. It adds an extra bit in the upper tones of the band.

Fusion, on the other hand, holds almost no room for the clarinet. In such a context, the clarinet is incongrous and more often than not sound "wrong." Fusion is more electric and in-your-face and the clarinet would probably be too quiet anyway. That`s why the soprano sax is commonly used.

In my pseudo proffesor/mediator way, I`m saying that the idea of a clarinet being bad with jazz is too vauge to be right or wrong. In the case of Bennie Goodman, the brash statement is very wrong. But in the likes of Jaco, the statement holds some truth.

Hope that made sence

Actually the clarinet has no place in a jazz band other than as a "color" instrument. Having a reed instrument, such as the clarinet, higher in pitch to the lead alto sax would distort the sound of the saxophone section. The clarinet was only used in swing bands as a solo or color instrument, but never as standard instrumentation. The clarinet would be far more effective in a small group setting. Also, whoever said that you should pinch the reed to play jazz is horribly wrong. You want a very "fat" sound when playing jazz. So you should use the most relaxed embouchure possible, and even roll out your bottom lip occasionally.

happy new year everyone

Jazz clarinet is what made clarinet so popular during the 40s-60s. Without that boom, the clarinet might not be like it is today. In fact, saxophones sound like jazz clarinets, since clarients were around way before saxophones were and became more popular in jazz earlier. Listen to Eddie Daniels and tell me if you think he still sounds like a saxophone.

You people are really ignorant. Get off the computer and go practice and develop your skill instead of trying to talk about it without any actual relevant knowledge of the instrument and genre.

Bradley

Actually Bradley, the clarinet was a popular jazz instrument from the turn of the 20th century to the 1930`s. The 40`s was where the dance band era fell apart, and bebop took over as the prominent style of jazz. Perhaps you should study your jazz history so you would have something relevent to say.

And maybe Eddie Daniels clarinet playing sounds somewhat like a saxophone because he began his jazz career as a tenor saxophonist before crossing over to a full time clarinetist. Guess you`re just really ignorant.

Bryan- Eddie Daniels sounds nothing like a saxophone. I guess you missed my point.

Also- Artie Shaw and Benny Goodman and all those players made their millions in the period I was talking about, and clarinet was still one of the popular instruments on the radio.

Don`t try to make me look like a fool, because I`m not.

Bradley

Brad,

I`m sorry but you couldn`t be more wrong. The dance band was no more in the 40`s, 50`s, and 60`s. The only prominent jazz clarinetist in this period was Buddy Defranco. Although Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw were still around, the their music was not popular during this period. They were over shadowed by artists such as Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, and John Coltrane, just to name a few. These were the musicians that were being played on the radio. Read a book if you don`t believe me.

I`ve heard about Shaw`s career "the way he tells it" so if you want to argue, then fine. Were you alive then? Because if you were then that`s weird- since he was really in it for the money and only went back to playing when he spent all his money in Mexico basically. If he was truly "overshadowed" then there wouldn`t be any market to make money in.

Whatever....

What I was trying to say originally is all these people don`t know enough about clarinet and playing to sit and curse about something this unimportant. Frankly they probably don`t have the talent either to have time to waste babbling on. I`m not saying all the posters here, ofcourse not- but some of them sure leave something to be desired and I`m sick of seeing these no-goods on forums like this.

Bradley

Dear Bradley,

Although you have shown a considerable amount of effort in proving your point, I must say that Bryan is absolutely right. I am currently studying jazz history, and everything that Bryan has said is definitely, without a doubt true. Also I think it is unfair of you to try to criticize others by saying that they have "no talent" or that they don`t know anything about the "genre" or that they need to "get off the computer and practice their skill". Perhaps that is what you need to do. Maybe you need to find relevant information about the genre, or practice more if you have nothing better to do then post false information and insult people that may be very talented and skilled musicians.