sessions with alto-clarinet

[Rooster_Ties]

Hi all,

Was listening to a few things I hadn't heard in some time, including one that happened to feature two or three tracks with alto clarinet (Joe Lovano's "Universal Language", BN 1993) -- and I know Joe's played alto-c on at least a couple other dates. Heard him live with one (in a piano-less quartet), in the spring of '95 I think.

I've always wished alto clarinet were played more often (it just isn't that common, I gather). To me, it combines the best of both clarinet and bass clarinet (particularly in the lower register, which I prefer in all clarinets). The one time I heard Don Byron live, as much as he played in the high register (and altissimo especially) -- all night I was wishing he played alto instead (I just can't seem to process lines and notes that high up). Actually, I wish he'd lay off the altissimo entirely, sheesh!!

Back to actual alto clarinet recordings: I know of one track from Frank Foster's "Manhattan Fever" (BN 1968, specifically from the bonus session on the Conn, the last track IIRC) that claims to be alto clarinet, though I've gone back and forth between believing it and thinking it's a regular Bb (standard).

Seems like I'm forgetting a few other examples. Pretty sure Anthony Braxton has played it a number of times (since he's played damn near everything with a reed). The Wikipedia entry for the instrument says: "A few jazz musicians, Hamiet Bluiett, Vinny Golia, J. D. Parran, Petr Kroutil, Joe Lovano and Gianluigi Trovesi among them, have played the alto clarinet."

Any particular dates people can recommend?? It seems like such a 'reasonable' instrument (neither too high, nor low), and it's such a shame it's so rarely played.

Edited February 28, 2011 by Rooster_Ties

[Rooster_Ties]

Here's some solo alto-clarinet -- for those who haven't seen/heard one in action.

Edited February 28, 2011 by Rooster_Ties

[Larry Kart]

It ain't jazz, but I think this is very nice, not unlike something Giuffre would have done in the late '50s:

[sonnymax]

I thought the alto clarinet was an E-flat instrument. No matter. Sabir Mateen plays one on Steve Swell's excellent Slammin' The Infinite on the Cadence label. Also, Gianluigi Trovesi has used the instrument from time to time.

[Free For All]

I thought the alto clarinet was an E-flat instrument.

It is.

[clifford_thornton]

Prince Lasha has played it; Rozanne Levine also regularly performs on the instrument.

[JohnS]

Frank Foster really wails on one of the Elvin Jones Blue Notes.

[king ubu]

Trovesi is the one coming to mind here first... but I couldn't point you to a particular disc where he uses it... he plays some kind of sopranino clarinet (not sure what it really is, Eb clarinet, A clarinet, C clarinet... there's all kinds of, but it's shorter and higher pitched than the regular Bb clarinet), alto and bass clarinets, as well as alto sax, but rarely seems to play the regular (Bb) clarinet.

[jazztrain]

Bob Helm reportedly plays alto clarinet on some of his Stomp Off albums.

[colinmce]

"The Sheepherder" on The Jimmy Giuffre Clarinet:

Jimmy Giuffre, clarinet

Buddy Collette, alto clarinet

Harry Klee, bass clarinet

[B. Clugston]

Seems like I'm forgetting a few other examples. Pretty sure Anthony Braxton has played it a number of times (since he's played damn near everything with a reed). The Wikipedia entry for the instrument says: "A few jazz musicians, Hamiet Bluiett, Vinny Golia, J. D. Parran, Petr Kroutil, Joe Lovano and Gianluigi Trovesi among them, have played the alto clarinet."

Any particular dates people can recommend?? It seems like such a 'reasonable' instrument (neither too high, nor low), and it's such a shame it's so rarely played.

According to http://www.restructures.net/BraxDisco/BraxDisco.htm, there's a few recordings with Braxton on contra-alto clarinet, but not alto clarinet. However, J.D. Parran plays one quite prominently on Tentet (New York) 1996 (aka Composition 193).

I'd recommend Bluiett's The Clarinet Family, featuring the leader on alto clarinet and seven other clarinet players.

Eloe Omoe also plays one on a Sun Ra record, either Pathways To Unknown Worlds or Friendly Love.