By Nicko
It might seem niche, but it pops up there. A lot of bass clarinet down low too. The places where it is standard in an arc through eastern Europe say, which isn’t well repped here. And in jazz from the early 20s into 30s when it was everywhere and right through, but ebbing and flowing, mostly ebbing. Typically, sax players have it as a second instrument. It’s been standard in classical orchestras since Mozart’s day and in pieces too. Into pop and rock too.
There are flavours here and a couple of clarinet ensembles to boot. There are many clarinettists left out and many styles and great tunes too. So let’s get tootling …
Allison Russell – Hy-Brasil (barbyn)
Distinctive moody modern folk+, almost a shanty, with clarinet in the intro and outro. Fascinating words too. It’s got mood written all over it. Hy-Brasil a mythical island.
Clarinet Choir (Abbi T) – Bell Clinks (vastariner)
A clarinet(s) version of a noisy, jingly jangly, non-clarinet tune by Cardiacs. Not what you would expect, which is good. Perhaps YT only, but no prob with that.
Enji – Temeen Deerees Naran Oirhon (ajostu)
Enkhjargal Erkhembayar to her Mum. Mongolian living in Germany with clarinet and bass clarinet from Joana Queiroz from Brazil. Stunning stuff. Jo joins her brother in Bru._.Jo in the B.
Four Play Clarinet – Lean On (Marconius7)
Another change from the usual string quartet doing covers – this one Major Lazers’ electro joint. The original has 4 billion views on YT, but I don’t think it’s special.
Hector Morlet – Picture Frame (Loud Atlas)
Bedroom-generated beats, high voice and clarinet by Ben Clapin. From Perth, WA.
Orquestra Mirasol – To de ”Re” Per a Mandolina I Clarinet (pejepeine)
Mandolin, clarinet, berimbau and cuica. What more needs to be said? Catalan with Brazilian influence from 1974. Ricard Roda does our biz.
Leandro Torres y el Trío Serenata – Cumbia sobre el mar (pejepeine)
A charming classic Colombian cumbia. It’s become a standard. Moon and water, do I hear? It’s over the sea, anyway.
Bill Frisell – I Can’t Be Satisfied (ajostu)
Ever enquiring Bill (g) and Don Byron (c) reconstruct Muddy Waters’ seminal I Can’t Be Satisfied. Guitar only originally with the Mud. It’s blues but not as we know it, Scotty.
King Creole’s Jazz Band – Dippermouth Blues (magicman)
An early (1923) classic by a classic ensemble when clarinet was always there. Blues influence coming into jazz. There are two Armstrongs in Louis and Lil Hardin (she married Louis), King’s on lead cornet. It’s Johnny Dodd on the liquorice stick.
Johnny Dodds' Black Bottom Stompers – Wild Man Blues (magicman)
A tune done by Louis’ Hot 7 with Johnny but here under Johnny’s name (1927). Lots of personnel swapping at the time. Dippermouth was the earlier ensemble style, this one more about consecutive solos. Split in two - Armstrong on cornet (one of his early best), then Johnny gets to work. Clarinettist Barney Bigard is on tenor sax.
Billie Holiday with Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra – The Way You Look Tonight (magicman)
Clarinet intro is so nice on one of her best from Billie from of her best periods with Teddy’s great band. Kern/Fields classic with 100s of versions, but so many would pick this one. Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw played clarinet with Teddy amongst others, but it’s Vido Musso here.
Evan Ziporyn – New York Counterpoint II: Slow (ajostu)
Slight cheat here – ajostu nommed Anastasia Schmidlin doing the whole of this Steve Reich piece and it’s some effort on clarinets and a great video, but I’ve just gone with the second movement, so another artist it is.
Mustafa Kandıralı – Bahriye Çiftetellisi (magicman)
Mustrafa and friends work this one which appears to have numerous versions. He’s a gun. Turkish music has lots of clarinet. Oud of thought? Not surprising, as the instrument swings in an arc up through Greece and eastern Europe in particular. Turkey too.
Fanfare Ciocarlia – Balaseanca De 8 Ore (Nilpferd)
What would any list be without some Romanian wedding music, even if it sticks out a bit. Especially as that means clarinet (and tuba). Fast and furious. Not as much eastern Euro music nommed this week as I thought might be.
Pachora – Little Theater (ajostu)
Not entirely unrelated to Kandirali etc, but with rockier drums for a start. Chris Speed does get a bit eastern in the odd flourish.
Eddie Henderson – Galaxy (Banazir Galbasi)
It's space jazz funk, man. As BG notes, by a crack outfit expanded from Herbie Hancock's monster 70s unit. Treated bass clarinet by Bennie Maupin. Echoes of Miles by Eddie, then Bennie. Echoes of Pharaoh Sanders to my ears later too. It's all good.
Quinteto Villa-Lobos & Luizinho Eça – Cais (pejepeine)
A 1972 instro arrangement of Milton Nasciemento’s sombre tune by a wind chamber group and pianist. Mostly ensemble playing, but Gonzaga Carneiro gets to rise at times.
David Shifrin, Emerson String Quartet – Clarinet Quintet in A major: I. Allegro (Uncleben)
Mozart’s clarinet quintet, at least movement I. Two movements of his Clarinet Concerto were also nommed. It was a toss up between them, even as the latter is taken as one of Mozart’s crowning achievements. These two works, plus another for trio, led to clarinets being permanent parts of the woodwind section of orchestras.
A Major Clarinet Playlist:
Evan Ziporyn – New York Counterpoint II: Slow (ajostu)
Allison Russell – Hy-Brasil (barbyn)
Clarinet Choir (Abbi T) – Bell Clinks (vastariner)
Enji – Temeen Deerees Naran Oirhon (ajostu)
Four Play Clarinet – Lean On (Marconius7)
Hector Morlet – Picture Frame (Loud Atlas)
Orquestra Mirasol – To de ”Re” Per a Mandolina I Clarinet (pejepeine)
Leandro Torres y el Trío Serenata – Cumbia sobre el mar (pejepeine)
Bill Frisell – I Can’t Be Satisfied (ajostu)
King Creole’s Jazz Band – Dippermouth Blues (magicman)
Johnny Dodds' Black Bottom Stompers – Wild Man Blues (magicman)
Billie Holiday With Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra – The Way You Look Tonight (magicman)
Mustafa Kandıralı – Bahriye Çiftetellisi (magicman)
Fanfare Ciocarlia – Balaseanca De 8 Ore (Nilpferd)
Pachora – Little Theater (ajostu)
Eddie Henderson – Galaxy (Banazir Galbasi)
Quinteto Villa-Lobos & Luizinho Eça – Cais (pejepeine)
David Shifrin, Emerson String Quartet – Clarinet Quintet in A major: I. Allegro (Uncleben)
The B But Not Flat Clarinet List:
Don Burrows George Golla Duo – Blue Orchids (ajostu)
Quiet duet from the long-time and impeccable pairing in Don (c) and George (g). They both reappear in the guru list in funkier guise.
Art Tatum, Buddy DeFranco & Red Callender – A Foggy Day (Nilpferd)
Tasteful and classy from 1956 on the Gershwin standard.
The Jimmy Giuffre 3 – Two Kinds Of Blues (Uncleben)
Jim’s on the stick and tasty Jim Hall on guitar and was a clarinettist and sax player, rather than sax player and clarinettist. Bonus is you get two kinds of blues for the price of one. Late drop from the A. I like it.
Mal Waldron – Warm Canto (Uncleben)
Eric Dolphy does the biz. He was nommed for a more out to lunch! (album title) one too.
Pete Fountain – Licorice Stick (Marconius7)
Licorice of liquorice? Regardless, you’ll be tapping your toes. A hoot on the black stick.
Pete Fountain and his stick
Barney Bigard and His Jazzopaters – Caravan (magicman)
Written by Juan Tizol and he’s up first, back in 1928. Wait for Barney on clarinet at 2:01. Grieving not to have it in A, given Barney’s solo is extended for the time and this is such a famous tune. Some great recordings by Duke Ellington and bandmembers in drag on sessions with sidemen credited and better band names.
Benny Goodman And His Orchestra – Stomping At The Savoy (Marconius7)
The dance bands must be repped. This is a smooth floor filler from Ben. Not to be confused with Chomping At The Saveloy. Just couldn’t fit in the A.
Flamin' Groovies – Bam Balam (ShivSidecar)
Not the only ‘modern’ group doing a fun throwback mit clarinet (Van Halen included!). I suspect the Groovies like Fleischer cartoons of the 30s. Might be Betty Boop they’re talking about.
Tuba Skinny – Jubilee Stomp (Naguchi)
Skinnying up a faithful but spirited version of Duke’s tune on the street where they hang out. Good stuff from the youth.
Supertramp – Poor Boy (Marconius7)
Guitar solo? Who needs it when you’ve got clarinet! Supertramp are one of a few fond older sister bands for me. She had albums in the 70s before I had albums. Not that many clarinet in pop tunes nommed.
Father John Misty – Nothing Any Good Happens At The Goddamn Thirsty Crow (ParaMhor)
A bit of a drunken country riddim and a quirky (sardonic?) lyric as per usual. A clarinet weaves in, over the orchestration.
The Unthanks – How Wild The Wind Blows (severin)
Thanks to the Unthanks for covering Nicko’s Mum Molly Drake. Clarinet and violin in unison here. Got pipped by Allison Russell for the A. Great project’
The The – August & September (Nilpferd)
Gonna write a letter, turned into a book. Subtle bass clarinet by Dai Pritchard, clarinet by Sarah Homer, also oboe. I like it, got dropped late on the A.
Primal Scream – Get Duffy (happyclapper)
Michael Duffy I guess. PS go dubbish, with Ian Dixon on bass clarinet.
Bru._.Jo – Granulares Matinais (ajostu)
Bruno Qual and Joana Queiroz, see Enji on the A. Atmospheric electronics and clarinet.
Cabaret Voltaire – Treated Clarinet (severin)
Out there pops and squeaks.
B But Not Flat B-List Playlist:
Don Burrows George Golla Duo – Blue Orchids (ajostu)
Art Tatum, Buddy DeFranco & Red Callender – A Foggy Day (Nilpferd)
The Jimmy Giuffre 3 – Two Kinds Of Blues (Uncleben)
Mal Waldron – Warm Canto (Uncleben)
Pete Fountain – Licorice Stick (Marconius7)
Barney Bigard and His Jazzopaters – Caravan (magicman)
Benny Goodman And His Orchestra – Stomping At The Savoy (Marconius7)
Flamin' Groovies – Bam Balam (ShivSidecar)
Tuba Skinny – Jubilee Stomp (Naguchi)
Supertramp – Poor Boy (Marconius7)
Father John Misty – Nothing Any Good Happens At The Goddamn Thirsty Crow (ParaMhor)
The Unthanks – How Wild The Wind Blows (severin)
Primal Scream – Get Duffy (happyclapper)
The The – August & September (Nilpferd)
Bru._.Jo – Granulares Matinais (ajostu)
Cabaret Voltaire – Treated Clarinet (severin)
Liquorice Stick Guru’s List
Tony Gorman – I Live with the Sea in My Dreams
Tony Gorman (also below) from the Songs Of Hope album he did on his diagnosis with MS. Long slow notes better than fast ones now. Solo with bits of drone.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet – Softly, William, Softly
This is a live version with clarinet from an album I picked up at the charity shop. Bill Smith on the clarinet. No sax on this one, such a part of the Brubeck sound in the 50s. Audience does interrupt this meditative piece a bit. Treated clarinet first then less so after Dave’s go.
Don Byron and Existential Dred – Blinky
From 1998, but horrifying prescient given what could happen to Haitians in the US now. Sadiq with the deep words, Don does the clarinets.
Don Burrows with The Tasman Connection – The Tasman Connection
Don was usually pretty straight, some would say unadventurous (see B list). But here he goes the funk and it’s his electric clarinet doing the distinctive grunt work. He solos on flute though. Aussie and Kiwi musos hence the name.
“Omer” Simeon – Beau Koo Jack
Clarinet goes with New Orleans early on. This is trio performance by a lesser-known tootler (there’s Sidney Bechet to consider, plus those on other lists), but one in an unusual trio format meaning more clarinet, if not one of the greats. A tune done from Louis to and Tuba Skinny. From 1929, tagged: Clarinet Novelty with Piano and Traps.
The Harlem Hamfats
The Harlem Hamfats – Weed Smoker’s Dream
Apols to Naguchi who nommed Why Don’t You Do Right? by Benny G and Peggy L. I couldn’t fit that one in, but it reminded me of this more favoured unexpurgated original. Lyrics are compelling but a bit sus. Why is she sitting on a fortune, so to speak. Odell Rand on the clarinet.
Esma Redžepova – Čaje Šukarije
It was a different version I had to hand, but let’s go to the source and the “Queen of The Gypsies” as she was later tagged. From Macedonia, she recorded this more tthan once. This one is from 1965.
Mara! with Martenitsa Choir – Povik Ot Iug/Call From The South
Compare and contrast. This has clarinet by whiz Tony Gorman and soprano sax by his wife the impeccable Sandy Evans (first) before the massed voices come in. Both band and choir are led by Mara Kiek. An album by Australians in a Balkans style band and Bulgarian choir doing poems by Stefan Kozuharov. Sandy and Tony were also in one of the best Sydny jazz bands of the day in Clarion Fracture Zone.
These playlists were inspired by readers' song nominations in response to last week's topic:
Reed those lips: songs and pieces featuring the clarinet. The next topic will launch on Thursday after 1pm UK time.
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