[Dixielandjazz] Clarinet Question

[philwilking]

A small caveat:

The French army left Louisiana in 1803. It would have been old U. S. army 
surplus instruments left over from the War between the States and the 
subsequent occupation (1862 or '63 to 1876) which would have been available 
to those with little cash money.

I have often fantasized about a jazz band playing those old army band 
"backfire" instruments at a modern venue.

Even today, some reed players seek out "Albert System" clarinets for jazz.
I do know that a well played Albert clarinet has a mellower tone than a 
Boehm to me. Whether it is because they usually have wider bores (if they 
do), or because the Boehms have that little standpipe on the speaker key 
hole sticking up into the air column, or what, I don't know. I play tenor 
banjo, not clarinet.

PHIL WILKING

Those who would exchange freedom for
security deserve neither freedom nor security.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <RoddyTpt at aol.com>
>
> Up until the l930's most clarinettists would have used the simple system
> clarinet, even though the Boehm system was invented many years earlier. 
> This was
> because jazz as we know it was developed in New Orleans and the French 
> Army
> would have left behind the band instruments.
>