most interesting instrument in jazz culture

[wildduck]

I was wondering which instrument you think is the most interesting in jazz. I myself love the trumpet (partially because I play the thing myself) because of its beautiful tone and its versatility

another interesting instrument could be the upright bass, but I am interested in your oppinion.

Thanks

[Dorsetmike]

I think a lot depends who is playing the instrument, for me, the guitar in the hands of Joe Pass, Wes Montgomery or Barney Kessel takes some beating: John Lewis, George Shearing or Oscar Peterson on Piano for modern jazz or Mel Powell and Mary Lou Williams somewhere between Swing and modern, Ralph Sutton among many in earlier styles.

Interesting for me could also mean unusual, say David Snell on Harp, Toots Theilmans on harmonica.

[Corno Dolce]

I play quite a few jazz standards in the upper octave on my Contrabass Trombone. I used to play the Euphonium alot until recently. So, these two are my favs as solo instruments. Also, I'm very partial to the Flugelhorn.

[OLDUDE]

Hi Wildduck,
A good topic (and a brilliant non-de-plume),
I suppose that all musical instruments have the innate capability to appear interesting (as distinct from attractively tuneful) depending upon the musician, his abilities and his personal insights.
You can see from this that, to me, it is not so much the instrument that is interesting, but the instrumentalist and the instrumentation.
As an example, I can listen, with interest (and horror), to Theloneous Monk for a time to see how he is manipulating, (murdering), a beautiful tune such as 'Round Midnight, but I soon switch off and return to a tuneful pianist like Fats Waller, Teddy Wilson, George Shearing or Hank Jones (or many others).
Louis Armstrong was not an interesting trumpeter, he was a wonderful one.; Miles Davis was a limited but interesting trumpeter; however the instrument is the same for both.

Cheers and welcome to the forum from John

[JHC]

I was wondering which instrument you think is the most interesting in jazz. I myself love the trumpet (partially because I play the thing myself) because of its beautiful tone and its versatility

another interesting instrument could be the upright bass, but I am interested in your oppinion.

Thanks

wilduck, I’m not sure what you mean by interesting, I used to play Bass in various Jazz ensemble’s and found it to be a versatile instrument I also played some classical with it but I must admit I enjoyed the Jazz more as you had a lot of freedom and you were the only Bass not one of a section, also it can hold it’s own in any genre that I know of.
Now the Flute which was my other instrument was more at home in classical, I tried it once or twice in Jazz and it just sounded out of place. The Accordion is an instrument that sounded happy to be on it’s own until a few week’s ago when I heard one in some Jazz being played by a small ensemble and it sounded great, I am not aware of any orch or small ens that use it. I do think certain instruments are more suited to only a few types of music. I don’t know if this is the type of thing you were hoping your thread would bring up

[Contratrombone64]

J.H.C. did "the apostrophe" drop off the Nu Zeln school syllabus??

[Corno Dolce]

A new member named *Wildduck* came aboard - Welcome dear traveler of the Universe - Please make yourself feel very much at home here - You are among friends.

Cheers,

CD

[Dorsetmike]

Colin, There are some Duke Ellington tracks featuring accordion, I assume as there is no apparent piano to be heard that Duke himself may have been wielding it.

I'll look up the disc tomorrow if I can find it, it's available on last.fm, I'll post a link if possible.

(CT don't embarass the poor lad, although it is worse than the accent on Finalé)

[JHC]

J.H.C. did "the apostrophe" drop off the Nu Zeln school syllabus??

wat ya maen ?? puffer man ????????

[wildduck]

It is hard to reply in this thread, but i'll try.

I partially agree with the fact that it is the musician who makes the instrument interesting, perhaps i should have asked which instrument you find most versatile, but again this will lead to a discussion on weather it is the man with the instrument who makes it versatile or the instrument itself.

of course there are instruments which will not fit in in jazz but is that because of the instrument or the musicians or the way the people are taught the different instrument.

(and how many times did i manage to mention the word "instruments" in this text )

[Dorsetmike]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Contratrombone64
J.H.C. did "the apostrophe" drop off the Nu Zeln school syllabus??

wat ya maen ?? puffer man ????????

Now then you two, settle down else it's conductors batons at 20 paces. dawn tomorrow!

[JHC]

Now then you two, settle down else it's conductors batons at 20 paces. dawn tomorrow!

I would never hurt a fellow colonial, after all we let them win at Cricket

[matsoljare]

As an example, I can listen, with interest (and horror), to Theloneous Monk for a time to see how he is manipulating, (murdering), a beautiful tune such as 'Round Midnight,

You are aware he wrote it ,right

[hardbop grandpop]

i like the baritone sax, when ernie caceres was in eddie condons band he changed the sound of the whole band.try listening to confidentially its condon on budget label gala to see what i mean. gord

[JHC]

Sax, Of course. Because I don't know so much of sax, but when I listen to jazz, no one song leaves sax. I know a site sells all kinds of sax, if someone r interested in it, just visit.
http://www.dinnel.com/categories/Mus...ent/Saxophone/

Coal sacks, potato sacks, sugar sacks............................