Customer Reviews

Live in Berlin

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The clarinet was once one of the leading voices of jazz. During the Swing era clarinet players like Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw were Kings, but more recently the instrument has been all but forgotten in jazz circles. We should therefore thank World Saxophone Quartet member Hamiet Bluiett for his personal attempt at a revival with "The Clarinet Family." Recorded for the Black Saint label during a live performance in Berlin in November 1984, Bluiett trades in his trademark baritone sax for the alto clarinet, and joins forces with fellow clarinetists Don Byron, Dwight Andrews, Gene Ghee, John Purcell, J.D. Parran, Sir Kidd Jordan and even the great Buddy Collette on this eclectic tribute to the instrument. (Fred Hopkins on bass and Ronnie Burrage on drums complete the ensemble.) The frontline sound is remarkably diverse and textured as the instruments range from the high-pitched soprano clarinet to the deep, throaty contrabass clarinet. Even though the material here is relatively mainstream (modern but certainly not avant-garde), I hesitate in awarding this disc a fifth star because those who do not truly love the clarinet may think of this as a novelty record. However, those who enjoy the clarinet, and the rich interplay of the World Saxophone Quartet for that matter, will be right at home with "The Clarinet Family."

The performances are all top notch, and even the drummer had me raising ny eyebrows during solos. That being said, the show is all about Bluiett, amazing. The unique sound (reminescant of Rahsaan Roland Kirk, sometimes) has the audience's approval, as heard, and mine as well. If you are at all a fan of woodwinds, or any jazz really, check this out, you won't be dissapointed.