During the swing era of 1920s and1930s, the clarinet was an essential part of every leading band orchestra. Manyleading bandleaders from that time were successful clarinet players. Switch on a swing music radio station and therich and clear sound that you hear in the musical arrangements is the clarinet. In this blog, we take a look at some of the leading clarinet players in the world of jazz.
Benny Goodman
Known as the “King of Swing”,Benny Goodman is unarguably one of the greatest jazz clarinet players. His 1938concert in Carnegie Hall was defined as the “coming out party of jazz” at that time. He was also a successful bandleader, forming one of the first racially integrated bands during the 1930s. Goodman made his debut with Bix Beiderbecke and had his first solo recording at the age of 18. He was a masterful clarinettist and a lively and unpredictable soloist. He could also play classical music pieces on his instrument. During the course of his long-spanning musical career, Goodman played with all the leading musical stalwarts, from Billie Holiday to Louis Armstrong.
Artie Shaw
Artie Shaw was a skilfulclarinettist, a music composer and arranger, and one of the most successfulbandleaders of his time. His band’s 1938 recording of Cole Porter’s big hit “Begin the Beguine” became a watershed moment for Shaw’s musical career. Featuring his sweet clarinet playing skills at the forefront, the track became one of the most important recordings of that time. It instantly made Shaw a huge star, making way for national acclaim and big salaries. Some of his other popular recordings include swing era classics such as “Stardust”, “Moonglow” and “Frenesi”. In 1938, Shaw signed on Billie Holiday for his band becoming the first white bandleader to hire a full-time Black singer. He was also an innovative musical composer, who designed his arrangements based on principles of classical music. He was one of the first to embrace the style of “Third Stream” music, a genre that blended elements from classical and jazz.
Sidney Bechet
When we think of jazz soloists,Louis Armstrong is always the first name that comes to mind. But it wasactually Sidney Bechet who was the first recorded jazz soloist, making his recording debut in 1923 a few months before Armstrong. Bechet is regarded as one of the greatest jazz soloists, who skilfully mastered playing both the clarinet and the soprano saxophone. He was also a great composer known for his innovative arrangements. He worked with some of the greatest jazz pioneers, including King Oliver and Clarence Williams. His clarinet playing was characterized by a dramatic style with intense use of vibrato and an insane ability to improvise. He toured extensively all over Europe and was the first jazz performer to earn praise from Ernest Ansermet, a distinguished Swiss conductor and classicist. Bechet continued to play both the clarinet and the soprano sax through 1920s to 1950s. He was known for an infamous temper and fiery personality.
Johnny Dodds
Johnny Dodds started studying theclarinet when he was 16 years old, but it was not long before he became one ofthe leading clarinettists of his era. During the 1920s, he recorded with Jelly Roll Morton’s Red Hot Peppers and Louis Armstrong’s Hot Five and Hot Seven. In his recordings with Armstrong, his wailing high-register clarinet sound created a pleasing contrast with the trumpeter’s more forceful approach. Speaking about he great influence Johnny Dodds had in the world of jazz, Benny Goodmanremarkably claimed that no one could ever surpass the quality of his fine tone. Dodds’ contribution to the evolution of jazz earned him a place in the Jazz Hall of Fame.
Conclusion
The clarinet is considered animportant musical instrument of every jazz ensemble till today. The next timeyou tune into a swing music radio station, try to hear for the clear notes of a clarinet playing and you will see how greatly it influences a track.
