Instruments

Clarinet

The clarinet is a cylinder-shaped, woodwind instrument with a single reed; its tone is controlled by keys that cover or uncover holes in the cylinder in which the instrument's sound is produced. Clarinets were first advertised in 1710, but were slow to catch on although Handel wrote for the instrument occasionally and Mozart produced two masterpieces for a clarinettist friend in the last few years of his life. The clarinet flourished during the nineteenth century, when it became a regular member of both the classical symphony orchestra and the marching band. From the band tradition the clarinet found its way into New Orleans-style jazz and then into swing, where Benny Goodman became perhaps its greatest solo exponent. Only moderately difficult to play in comparison with other wind instruments, the clarinet is a fixture of school music programs.

Artist Highlights

Artist Active Styles
Sidney Bechet 1900s - 1950s Dixieland, Early Jazz, New Orleans Jazz
Rahsaan Roland Kirk 1950s - 1970s Avant-Garde Jazz, Post-Bop, Jazz Instrument, Mainstream Jazz, Modern Creative, Saxophone Jazz, Soul Jazz
Pee Wee Russell 1920s - 1960s Early Jazz, Dixieland, Swing, Mainstream Jazz
Mezz Mezzrow 1920s - 1970s Dixieland, Swing, Early Jazz, Jazz Instrument, Mainstream Jazz, New Orleans Jazz, Trumpet Jazz
Don Byron 1980s - 2020s Avant-Garde Jazz, Post-Bop, M-Base, Jewish Music, Klezmer, Modern Creative
Buddy DeFranco 1940s - 2010s Bop, Standards, Jazz Instrument, Vibraphone/Marimba Jazz
Jimmy Dorsey 1920s - 1950s Big Band, Swing, Dixieland
Anthony Braxton 1960s - 2020s Avant-Garde Jazz, Experimental Big Band, Free Jazz, Structured Improvisation, Creative Orchestra, Jazz Instrument, Saxophone Jazz, Avant-Garde Music
Johnny Dodds 1910s - 1940s Early Jazz, New Orleans Jazz, Jazz Blues
Jimmy Hamilton 1930s - 1990s Bop, Swing
Jimmie Noone 1910s - 1940s New Orleans Jazz, Early Jazz
Albert Nicholas 1920s - 1970s New Orleans Jazz, Dixieland, Early Jazz, Trad Jazz
John Carter 1940s - 1990s Avant-Garde Jazz, Free Jazz
Omer Simeon 1920s - 1950s New Orleans Jazz, Swing, Jazz Instrument, Piano Jazz
Russell Procope 1930s - 1970s Swing
Barney Bigard 1920s - 1980s New Orleans Jazz, Swing, Big Band, Dixieland, Early Jazz
Edmond Hall 1920s - 1960s New Orleans Jazz, Swing, Jazz Instrument, Trombone Jazz
Stan Hasselgård 1940s Bop, Swing
Alphonse Picou 1900s - 1950s New Orleans Jazz, Jazz Instrument, Piano Jazz