[Dixielandjazz] Bechet on soprano sax

[Tom Belmessieri]

Then why was the straight soprano invented?

Tom B.
----------
>From: "Bryce, John (CCPS)" <jbryce at ccboe.com>
>To: "'Robert Smith'" <robert.smith at mitransport.no>, Dixieland 
>Jazz<dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
>Subject: RE: [Dixielandjazz] Bechet on soprano sax
>Date: Thu, 9 Jun 2005 14:26:10 -0400
>
>Actually, it is NOT harder to play a curved soprano sax in tune.  The added
>curvature removes a bit of the "edge" from the soprano's timbre but does 
>not
>affect pitch.  Thus curved sopranos tend to be more mellow than straight
>sopranos.  I've got a 1921 curved Buescher soprano that has the most
>incredible voice of any soprano I've played.  As for playing it in tune, 
>ask
>Dave Littlefield whether my Buescher plays in tune.
>
>"A lurker"
>
>J. D. Bryce
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Robert Smith [mailto:robert.smith at mitransport.no]
>Sent: Thursday, June 09, 2005 12:43 PM
>To: Dixieland Jazz
>Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Bechet on soprano sax
>
>
>Let's not forget that Bechet played a straight soprano sax. How anybody
>manages to stay in tune on a bent saxophone I can't imagine. In my opinion
>all saxophones should be straight with suitable mechanisms for opening and
>closing those little round holes out of which the sound seems to leak. It
>probably means a deeper concert stage for the bass-saxophone and maybe a
>little trolley to support it, although alphorn players seem to manage.
>
>As far as "sounding better on the clarinet" is concerned, Bechet sounded
>superb on both. Johnny Dodds was also a superb clarinet player, but he had
>trouble trying to play the alto sax.
>Harry Carney could switch from the clarinet to the baritone sax, with no
>apparent loss in quality in either direction.
>
>Cheers
>
>Bob Smith
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