Originally published in The Clarinet 51/4 (September 2024).
Copies of The Clarinet are available for ICA members.
The Jazz Scene
Top Jazz/Global Music Clarinet Recordings, Part 3
by Timothy Bonenfant and the Jazz/Global Music Committee
Click here for Part 2
This final installment of our series on influential jazz and global music albums featuring clarinetists presents the choices of our other committee members, Eduardo Villarroel Mera and Rachel Hardman. All of our members would like to mention, however, that it is a great idea for anyone interested in learning how to play these styles of music also listen to the great players of all instruments. A playlist titled “ICA Jazz/World Music Top 5 Album Recommendations” is available on YouTube. We hope that these recommendations have inspired you to hear the clarinet in new contexts, and to understand different approaches to tone, melody, rhythm and other musical elements present in these styles.
EDUARDO VILLARROEL MERA
1. Buddy DeFranco – Buddy DeFranco and Oscar Peterson play George Gershwin
For me, this album was one of my first contacts with jazz, as I come from the classical world, and the fact that they played George Gershwin’s repertoire, also with a string orchestra, was for me a common point with which I could get started. It was there that I discovered Oscar Peterson, who for me is the most formidable pianist of the 1950s. I love the lyricism and melodicism of this album, which reminds me a lot of the swing era of earlier years.
2. 
Eric Dolphy – Last Date
I discovered this album after having played at the Muziekcentrum van de Omroep in Hilversum, Holland, where this album was recorded in 1964. Eric Dolphy’s daring and passionate playing is remarkable. His playing defies the conventional jazz style of the time, and I think this is a good example of his style.
3. Barney Bigard – Complete Jazz Series 1944-1945
This album contains several recordings by Barney Bigard after he left the Duke Ellington Orchestra, with whom he played regularly at the Cotton Club in Harlem. I find especially formidable the slow blues “Blues for Art’s Sake” and “Wini’s Blues,” with singer Wini Betty.
4. Jimmy Giuffre – The Jimmy Giuffre Clarinet
This is one of my favorite albums, as it has very clean lines that can be transcribed, such as “So Low.” It’s great for learning language through transcription. The register he plays in during most of the song is quite low and contains slow, simple phrases. This makes it much easier for players who are just starting with transcribing jazz tunes.
5. Benny Goodman – Charlie Christian – The Genius of the Electric Guitar
(feat. Benny Goodman)
This was an album that surprised me a lot, as I knew Benny Goodman from his more “pop” big band side. But it was a surprise when I heard the vibraphone and electric guitar lines in jazz on a recording from that era. I think Charlie Christian does some great playing, giving the electric guitar a more noticeable melodic role, and not relegating it as before to just a rhythm section role. On the other hand, I think that Benny Goodman proposes an experimental facet with his sextet, which I didn’t know until then and like so much now.
RACHEL HARDMAN
1. Marcus Miller – Tales
I remember when this album came out as I was studying music at university, surrounded by young, talented musicians who loved all styles and genres of music. Everyone was listening to cool musicians and albums and this is when I discovered Marcus Miller for the first time, and I have been a huge fan ever since. Tales is a great jazz album in my opinion, but what I love most about this album is the use of the bass clarinet in the song “Strange Fruit.” Marcus Miller also plays the bass clarinet, and this is him performing on the track. It was the first time that I had really heard the bass clarinet being played as a jazz solo instrument and on a jazz album. I thought it was so cool and creative at the time to use a bass clarinet for soloing and I loved the fact that Marcus Miller was performing on it.
2. George Gershwin with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra – Rhapsody in Blue
Truthfully, who doesn’t love that clarinet solo line at the start of this piece?! I remember going to a local youth concert band performance when I was about 15 years old where they played a medley of Gershwin songs, and I was hooked. So off I went exploring, and eventually bought a cassette tape (yes, I am that old!) of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. I must have listened to it a thousand times and, of course, tried to practice the opening in my bedroom along with it, like all young and enthusiastic clarinetists. I even went to the local library and borrowed the score so I could try it out. I really wish I could remember which orchestra and clarinetist was playing on my original tape. However, there are so many great recordings of this work to choose from!
3. Artie Shaw – Concerto for Clarinet
I discovered this concerto in my second year at university and fell in love with the work. So clever and a truly challenging piece to learn! Check out those altissimo notes at the end! The Concerto for Clarinet was performed by Artie Shaw and his Orchestra in 1941. It was recorded on the Victor label as a two-sided 12-inch 78 record. This extended number was performed in the Paramount film Second Chorus which starred Fred Astaire and Paulette Goddard. It’s a great piece to listen to and play.
4. Eddie Daniels – Blue Bossa
I discovered Eddie Daniels when I was in school and I bought a book with a playalong cassette. The book was called Clarinet Solos for the Performing Artist and the music was composed by Michael Garson, with the tracks recorded by Eddie Daniels. Ever since trying to learn the Jazz Variations on a Theme of Paganini, I have been an admirer of Eddie Daniels and his jazz playing. I got the chance to see him perform at the ClarinetFest® in Florida and it was truly a special moment. There are so many fantastic albums to choose from, but I really love the Blue Bossa album where he collaborates with Bucky Pizzarelli on guitar. [Note: Daniels plays bass clarinet on this track, which I’ve never heard him do before. TB.]
5. Milan Rericha – Libertango
I first heard Milan Rericha play at ClarinetFest® in Florida and was blown away by his talent and clear love and passion for the clarinet. I went to his workshop and concert and (of course) bought one of his albums at the convention, which he kindly signed, and he gave me his clarinet thumbrest which I still use today! This is a great album and it celebrates Latin American and Spanish-influenced music. Clarinet in the Stars (2023) has more jazz-influenced performances, including Gershwin charts, and is also a great album.
With these recommendations complete, an overview is useful. The committee has recommended 22 clarinetists. Some of these names are those you might expect, with four members mentioning Buddy DeFranco, Benny Goodman, and Eddie Daniels. Eric Dolphy and Artie Shaw were each chosen by three of the committee members. Two members selected music by Don Byron, Anat Cohen, Jimmy Giuffre, and Herb Hall. The other clarinetists chosen were Barney Bigard, Sidney Bechet, John Carter, Pete Fountain, Jimmy Hamilton, Rolf Kühn, Marcus Miller, Phil Nimmons, Ivo Popasov, Milan Rericha, John Ruocco, Shirkhodaee, and Hüsnü Şenlendirici.
Four of these performers had performances chosen for their work on bass clarinet; Eric Dolphy, Don Byron, Eddie Daniels, and Marcus Miller, with both Dolphy and Miller chosen exclusively for their performances on that instrument.
There were also some other musicians from the global realm whom the committee wanted to highlight:
Giora Feidman (Argentina/Israel)
Best of Klezmer
The Klezmer’s Freilach
Ele Chomdo Libi – Yismechu Hashamayim (May the Heavens Rejoice)
Michele Gingras (Canada/USA)
Farfalekh
Far Rivka (For Rivka)
A.K.C. Natarajan (India)
Kavadi Chindu
A.K.C. Natarajan’s “The Clarinet”
Hüsnü Senlendirici (Turkey)
Millionerche
International Jazz Day Global Concert
Andy Statman (USA)
The Andy Statman Trio at the Historic Eldridge Street Synagogue
The Andy Statman Trio Live in Richmond: Araber Tanz
Shankar Tucker (USA)
Chal Chal Sakhi – Shankar Tucker (ft. Ankita Joshi)
Ashai Mugam – Shankar Tucker (ft. Vidya Vox & Vandana Iyer)
We hope that you find these recommendations interesting and enjoyable. We certainly do not intend to have this list represent the only musicians we think are worthy of your attention. If you find others you like, by all means, go for it!
Happy listening and exploring,
The Jazz and Global Music Committee
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