Does anyone else play the bass clarinet like Dolphy?

[l p]

My favorite dolphy is his bass clarinet playing on all versions of spiritual and india from coltrane's 1961 village vanguard box, and on 'springtime' from dolphy's 6/11/64 paris show.

Is there another musician who plays the bass clarinet in this fashion?

[erwbol]

There is only one Dolphy and I'm not knowledgeable enough to answer your question, but...

David Murray does play with Aylerish squeaks and upper register activity. His Ballads For Bass Clarinet is one of my all time favourite albums.

http://youtu.be/zj4oY86OUBk

It's long out of print, but Downtown Music Gallery has some sealed copies left. eBay link

Edited November 8, 2013 by erwbol

[paul secor]

Eric Dolphy was unique on every instrument he played.

[Blue Train]

Eric Dolphy was unique on every instrument he played.

I agree. I can think of a lot of bass clarinet players, but none of them sound anything like Dolphy.

P.S. On David Murry. He spends way too much time in the higher register. Seems to me more of a device to me.

[l p]

to me, no other instrument in the world sounds as good as when dolphy plays the bass clarinet on the above named tunes.

i've checked out david murray live material. it left me unimpressed.

[JohnS]

Sorry guys I'd go for Murray any day. Seeing him last month served to confirm this for me. Granted he's different to Dolphy, you couldn't mistake either.

[erwbol]

Lucky for me I love both and don't feel the need to choose or even compare one against the other.

[jazzbo]

I love them both too.

One reed player I wish played the bass clarinet more often was Buddy DeFranco.

And I wish my Dad had played it longer, he played it during his high school years only.

[relyles]

Although I am a fan of Murray as well, I have to agree with those that have already intimated that no one really plays bass clarinet like Dolphy. I know that Rudi Mahall has done some things in tribute to Dolphy, but even he does not necessarily sound like him. I recently listened to a recording by the Minnesota based Out To Lunch Quintet, which as you can guess is dedicated to Dolphy's music. I can't remember the reed player's name right now, but he seemed to have some Dolphyisms in his playing, but I suspect it was because of the project.

[Blue Train]

I like David Murray (basically the early stuff), but I just think the high register thing is old. It's like you can predict when it's going to happen.

Saw him live twice. The band was sloppy and he came across like he was high both times.

Edited November 8, 2013 by Blue Train

[Alexander Hawkins]

I realise it's a bit crass to post something of mine, but there's a player over here in the UK called Shabaka Hutchings who I think is a phenomenal bass clarinettist, and has absorbed certain elements of Dolphy's language for sure...he solos first on this tune if you fancy checking him out: http://babel-label.bandcamp.com/track/step-wide-step-deep-space-of-time-danced-thru

His own band is called 'Sons of Kemet', and is really great, although he tends to play more tenor and 'normal' Bb clarinet in that...

Edited November 8, 2013 by Alexander Hawkins

[sidewinder]

Totally agree re: Shabaka Hutchings on bass clarinet. Very impressive... and 'Sons of Kemet' are a must see !

They nearly lifted the roof off the Methodist church at Swanage

Edited November 8, 2013 by sidewinder

[Alexander Hawkins]

I bet - they're totally amazing live, that's for sure!

[uli]

Dolphy kinda put the bass clarinet on the map I only recently learned from the liners of a Dolphy recording that Herbie Mann played it too

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sKeTxDTY48

[bluesForBartok]

No one can surpass Dolphy IMO but I"m surprised there's no mention of Louis Sclavis. He's a fantastic player that certainly carries the spirit of Dolphy in a lot of his music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKX9Hf76QLQ

Edited November 8, 2013 by bluesForBartok

[Blue Train]

Love Sclavis, but I never think of Dolphy hearing him. He has his own sound that you know it's Sclavis.

P.S. Nothing personal Andrew....but Shabaka Hutchings (at least on that track) is like listening to one of the Coltrane clones....or like some tribute rock band. They sound so much like them...there is no them in it....and I can just listen to Coltrane, or those bands....and Dolphy.

Edited November 8, 2013 by Blue Train

[Rooster_Ties]

I heard a really great modern classical bass clarinetist a good 10+ years ago who replicated Dolphy's sound amazingly, though I think he played through-composed solos (and what I heard was his tribute to Dolphy, on solo bass clarinet). Dutch, iirc, and his name was Harry

Sparnaay.

Really fantastic, for what it was -- though it certainly wasn't anything beyond what is was -- i.e. "jazz" it was not.

Dolphy's version of "Softly as a Summer Sunrise" EDIT: it was Dolphy's version of "God Bless the Child" that I heard -- may have been is what I heard Sparnaay play, though it's been a good 10-12 years. Heard it as an encore on a modern classical concert, that Sparnaay was the headliner of.

Edited November 9, 2013 by Rooster_Ties

[king ubu]

Uhm, am I the only one who doesn't understand the original question here?

I mean why should anybody even try?

[Joe]

A vote for Marty Ehrlich. Dolphy-inspired -- he has some of ED's elasticity in his tone, though he's not as daring in his intervallic leaps) -- but Erhlich has his own voice on the instrument.

LINE ON LOVE is also very good. If you end up liking him, there's A LOT of Ehrlich to hear (and not just on Enja).

Also, among younger players, Jason Stein is worth checking out.

Among the European players, Rudi Mahall, for sure. But Michel Portal before Sclavis... just my personal preference, of course.

[Blue Train]

I think the easiest thing is a list of Bass Clarinets not named Dolphy. Unless we're talking about tribute/clones like what Alexander Hawkins posted.

Like I said, I can (and I am sure many others) can (and several have done) mention/list Bass Clarinets with their own sound....but Dolphy, is Dolphy in my book.

How anyone thinks Murray is in the same Universe is another discussion.

Edited November 9, 2013 by Blue Train

[dprfish]

Dolphy is Dolphy, but this is definitely worth checking out:

[colinmce]

Dolphy is Dolphy, but this is definitely worth checking out:

Yep. The opening cut has a "rough & ready" sound that's not unlike Far Cry or At The Five Spot.

[A Lark Ascending]

Eric Dolphy's bass clarinet is one of the many beauties of jazz. I recall being taken by it in the earliest days of my jazz listening when I was largely listening in a fog.

As others have said I've no interest in finding another Dolphy but I'm always drawn to recordings with bass clarinet featured. Leaving aside the 'who's best?' silliness, I'd agree with sidewinder and Alex about their choices and would add in John Surman (not used so much as in the 70s) and Julian Siegel amongst the interesting Brits.

Interested in that Jason Stein recommendation. Never heard of him but will explore.

[Head Man]

David Murray plays some cool bass clarinet on this:

The track "India" is a special favourite of mine:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=420eCLr86tA

Edited November 9, 2013 by Head Man

[tomatamot]

Check Marty Krystall

http://www.discogs.com/artist/Marty+Krystall