clifford_thornton

I really hope that writing about this music is not an exercise in the kind of capital-P Power that I think Mr. Iverson is referring to. Yeesh.

Hmm. Would be a worthwhile road trip...

While definitely a major influence on the instrument, would it be fair to say he may not be the only valuable game in town? Dolphy is a huge, huge figure in this music but there are other bass clarinetists I listen to with more frequency and attention nowadays. Thoughts?

I had no idea.

tangential question: is Joanne Grauer related to Bill in any way?

Right you are about Milestone - somehow omitted that equally significant imprint.

no shit?

As with a number of large-looming figures in the business of recording and producing this music, Keepnews clearly has his cheerleaders and detractors. Riverside was a fantastic label, no denying that. Most of us weren't there and "complex, weird guy whom some dug and some hated - RIP" seems like a fair response.

I'd argue that people like Nessa, Litweiler, Kart, Sangrey and Crompton (the last two are excellent musicians) have done quite a bit...

I know a dude in Japan who has a copy for around $30 - if you need, carpe and diem as the mod says! Got too much to sort through already...

Arthur Doyle is another, though he called it a "voice-o-net."

Or at least players resident in Holland...

how is that? Dig both on their own, so I guess I should dig it, right? Price has been around $30-$40 for a while now (sure I know you paid $7.98 at most!).

Theo Loevendie is another fine bcl player from Holland; mostly known as a composer of contemporary music, he also led some heavy jazz ensembles in the '60s and '70s on which he played a variety of reeds and piano. And on Loevendie's LP Chess! (BASF), Harry Sparnaay stands in for him admirably.

Evan Chandlee played it with Keno Speller, Kenneth Terroade, Claude Delcloo and the Cohelmec Ensemble in the '70s. Definitely another voice worth checking out though most of his appearances are on scarce/obscure LPs. Yes on Rudi Mahall!

Thanks for bringing up Douglas Ewart - I've definitely heard him playing the instrument on record, but live he's had other arrows in his quiver. Another Frenchman who excels on the bass clarinet is Denis Colin, whom I've seen and heard with François Tusques. Brilliant player.

FWIW, in listening to Actuel 15 online, I hear Braxton's contrabass clarinet, not bass clarinet.

Gunter Hampel, yes indeed.

link Anthony Braxton Quartet Leo Smith (trumpet, flugelhorn, logs, siren) Anthony Braxton (alto,soprano saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet, flute, chimes) Leroy Jenkins (violin, viola, flute, organ, harmonica) Steve McCall (drums, darbouka, percussion) Studio Saravah, Paris, France, September 10, 1969 The Light On The Dalta BYG (F) 529.315 Simple Like - Composition 6G: B-X0 NO-47A - * BYG (F) 529.315; Affinity (E) AFF 15 Anthony Braxton - B-X0 NO-47A Will have to pull that one out again; wouldn't be surprised if he was mis-credited there. BYG weren't known for very good recording data. He's credited on both "bass" and "clarinet" on Jacques Coursil's Black Suite but he plays solely contrabass clarinet on the date. Here's some fine dueling Portal/Surman bass clarinet action - this tune is on Portal's Alors!!! (Futura). Killer LP.

Michel Pilz exclusively plays/played the instrument as both a sideman (on various Schlippenbach-related and FMP sessions) as well as several leader dates from the early 70s through the '80s. He's still somewhat active, from what I understand. Michel Portal, Louis Sclavis, Frank Wright, Willem Breuker, Giuseppi Logan, Peter Brötzmann, Mototeru Takagi, Ken McIntyre, Byard Lancaster and Marzette Watts have all played the instrument as one axe in an arsenal. Checking out these players would yield a pretty wide array of musical approaches, though mostly in the 'free music' realm. Sclavis and Portal are both very active today and have sizable discographies; I don't think PB plays it much anymore, though he has recorded on alto clarinet in recent years. Among recent practitioners I'd check out the wonderful Chicagoan Jason Stein; speaking of Chicagoans, Ken Vandermark plays it as well, though not as frequently as the straight horn. Baritone saxophonist Josh Sinton also plays the instrument occasionally (and I've heard him on alto too). He's a monster instrumentalist, regardless of what reed he's playing. Braxton favors the contrabass clarinet but I have a nagging feeling that there's something on which he plays the bass clarinet.

Really love this era of SME - sometimes Watts and Stevens are all you need.

Not exactly a beloved guy, his name on releases being questionable (as far as how much he actually contributed to the sessions' production), and yet I still want to say 'RIP.' Guess that's how it is in this business. FWIW, when Stollman goes, as rightly vilified as he might be, I'll still be bummed.

Ah, Silke Röllig - can finally put a face to the name.

THIS.

I know that version exists, but I don't think I've ever seen it in the flesh.