[Dixielandjazz] vibrato

[Larry Walton Entertainment - St. Louis]

Someone else noted that maybe the reason that he did that is the poor 
quality and intonation of early soprano saxes.  I also read somewhere that 
he gave up the first time because of the rotten intonation.

Early soprano's are a trial and are almost impossible to play in tune. 
Modern Soprano's are a whole bunch better and even these cheap Asian 
soprano's are better (except in the high register above A) than the vintage 
ones.

The soprano problem is actually two fold.  The first is intonation and 
that's why I believe that only a seasoned sax player with a good ear should 
tackle the instrument.  I say that even if he buys a top of the line 
instrument and there are several available today.  The second is tone 
quality.  Many soprano players sound like a Duck in the low register and 
something resembling a squealing pig in the upper.  Good players who know 
what they want can overcome this tendency.  There is a definite break in 
tonal color that can also be evened out at least to a point.

Some vibrato's can help overcome this problem.  I guess I'm sort of curious 
to know why he selected the Soprano over several other types of instruments 
such as the clarinet or alto sax that typically produce much better 
intonation.

There is one thing to recommend the soprano and that is great projection and 
I think it's even better than a cornet.  You can be heard if nothing else.
Larry
St. Louis
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Craig I. Johnson" <civanj at roadrunner.com>
To: "Larry Walton" <larrys.bands at charter.net>
Cc: "Dixieland Jazz Mailing List" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2007 1:59 PM
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] vibrato


> I can't stand Bechet's vibrato on the sax, but his ideas are so good
> that I listen anyway and try to ignore it. On the other hand he has
> a less noticeable (to me anyway) vibrato on the clarinet and I concur
> with those who like his clarinet playing.
>
> As to Wild Bill, his off-center lip placement was not that he didn't know
> better. An accident that caused him a lip injury forced him to play that 
> way
> to compensate.  If I'd not read about it nor seen pictures I'd never have 
> known
> that he played off-center.
>
> Regards,
> Craig Johnson
>
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