[Dixielandjazz] re Mexican, Sicilian and Creole Reedmen and others clarinet solo

[David Richoux]

Probably not  a Cajun - they tended to be of French origin, with a  
few very rare exceptions...

Dave Richoux (half Cajun ;-)

> One of the finest clarinetists to emerge from New Orleans but  
> somewhat underrated throughout his long career, Tony Parenti had a  
> smooth and fluid sound and a style full of subtle surprises and  
> exciting moments. Parenti's father had been a musician in the  
> Italian Peasant Army. Parenti started on violin but soon switched  
> permanently to clarinet. After studying at St. Philips School in  
> New Orleans, he played in Joseph Taverno's Italian Band and worked  
> with Alfred "Baby" Laine (1914), Nick LaRocca, Johnny Stein, Johnny  
> DeDroit and many other bands around his hometown. Parenti (who led  
> his own bands on and off starting in 1917) first recorded in New  
> Orleans as a bandleader in 1925, not moving to New York until the  
> late 1920's. He then worked in the studios of CBS and in the dance  
> bands of Paul Ash, Arnold Johnson, Fred Rich, Meyer Davis, B.A.  
> Rolfe and others. After four years with the Radio City Symphony  
> Orchestra, in 1939 Parenti joined Ted Lewis' band, staying until  
> 1945. He returned to jazz the following year, starting a long-time  
> association with Eddie Condon, playing with George Brunis and  
> leading his own dixieland band at Jimmy Ryan's. Parenti worked in  
> Chicago with Muggsy Spanier and Miff Mole, spent four years in  
> Florida in the early 1950's (often playing with Preacher Rolo  
> Laylan's Five Saints), was with the Dukes of Dixieland briefly in  
> 1952 and then returned to New York in 1954 where he mostly led his  
> own bands including a long spell (1963-69) at Jimmy Ryan's. Tony  
> Parenti was active up until his death, always sticking to classic  
> dixieland. He recorded as a leader during 1925-26 and 1928 (all of  
> which has been reissued on a CD for the Frog label), for Jazzology  
> (1947, 1949, 1962, 1966-67 and 1971), Southland (1954), Jazztone  
> (1955) and Fat Cat (1971). ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

On Aug 5, 2007, at 4:21 PM, D and R Hardie wrote:

> Hi Again
>  Perhaps it should be a joint project Steve. You are the obvious  
> choice. Perhaps working with Fred who is
> a meticulous researcher. Incidentally, was clarinettist Tony  
> Parenti a Cajun? I always thought his tone on record  leant towards  
> the European Italian School.
> regards
> Dan Hardie
> Quicklink at
> http://tinyurl.com/nqaup
>