[Dixielandjazz] Don Suhor in THE CLARINET journal

[Charles Suhor]

Here are some excerpts from September issue of THE CLARINET, a review of my late brother Don's 2-CD set,"Clarinet Connections: From Dixieland to Bopsieland/ Also Alto: New Orleans Spot Gig+2"  (GHB 561/562). The set received high praise from Dan Morgenstern, Scott Yanow, Tommy Sancton, Bill Huntington, and others since its release in 2018. Don would have esp. dug the current comments in the go-to journal for serious clarinetists.—Charlie 

 New Orleans clarinetist Don Suhor (1932-2003) has gained new attention with this recent two-disc release of small ensemble sessions he recorded with friends over a 25-year period. It is the perfect showcase for his prodigious improvisational talent and commanding presence.The recordings are remarkable in that they showcase the influential players in Don’s past and document the breadth of his stylistic horizon, which effortlessly encompasses tunes and styles from early traditional New Orleans jazz through the swing era to bebop and beyond….
Don learned the Dixieland repertoire in his teen years and mastered the intricacies of dense, improvised ensemble playing that is the hallmark of early traditional jazz performance….Don is a consummate master of this style. He makes it easy for us to get lost in the music with his sinuous melodic lines and flawless ensemble counterpoint….
Perhaps the best track is Joe “King” Oliver’s iconic “Dippermouth Blues,” played by the Wendell Brunious Jazz Band....The 1923 solos of Johnny Dodds and Oliver are referenced but not duplicated. Personalized statements here border on bebop in nature while maintaining the energy and substance of the original. It is a tribute to these fine musicians that they can breathe new life into the foundational repertoire of jazz.
The second CD of the set ["Also Alto: New Orleans Spot Gig+2] continues the exploration into the flexibility and durability of early jazz. Much of this disc is from a wild impromptu wedding-party session that captures the energy of the event as much as the music of the Don Vappie Quartet....
Throughout all the diverse music included in this fine CD set, one thing is constant: Don Suhor was an outstanding and singular musician who mastered his instrument and should be included among the great jazz clarinetists....This CD set is a comprehensive tribute to a marvelously talented musician who successfully combined a respectful appreciation for heritage with a highly original brand of swing/bebop. It deserves to be in the collection of every jazz clarinetist and anyone interested in the mastery of our instrument. -– Jerry E. Rife
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