Steel Guitar and Clarinet: bad combo?

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 26 May 2007 5:31 am

A little taste of the Hot Club of Detroit with some nice clarinet. the full recording of the Godfather theme is on their debut album, which I can attest is amazing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-fZ0LF7ef8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HluQLFqNDeY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CggIXoLrAAc

Check out the accordion on the third clip. Both Clarinet and Accordion play on their album. How hip is that?

Gerald Ross · Post by **Gerald Ross** » 26 May 2007 6:12 am

Accordion not hip?

Don't tell that to Tom Stanton or Bobby Holmes..

In Tune With Fun

Scroll all the way down to read the entire story.

Thanks to my buddy Howard Kalish for this one!

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 26 May 2007 7:22 am

For another look at fairly current "hip" clarinet, do yourselves a favor and check out John Jorgenson's solo releases (He's one of the Hellecasters, plays with Elton John, etc.) Starting with "After You've Gone" his solo stuff is a fantastic blend of Gypsy acoustic guitar, played on one of Django's Macafferis, and very swinging clarinet. Smokin' stuff.
http://www.johnjorgenson.com/biography.html

Link to Amazon.com

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 26 May 2007 10:12 am

The guitarist on the HCOD godfather clip has modern guitarist syndrome ... play a great solo, bring it to a climax and then keep going with more soloing. The late Wes Montgomery would pace his solos sublimely moving from single notes to octaves to partial chords to block chords so that he built incredible musical tension that was released at just the right moment - then he'd stop.

As for the steel and clarinet issue, seems like we've answered that one - they can co-exist just perfectly when played by good musicians.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 27 May 2007 8:31 am

Me? I prefer a string trio. Steel, tenor banjo, and a yo-yo!

Michael Papenburg · Post by **Michael Papenburg** » 27 May 2007 11:22 am

To me, the biggest issue with that video clip is that the steel player never leaves any space in the song. Because of this, there is no room for "any" other instrument - regardless of hipness. I could have easily seen the clarinet fitting in if the steel player was willing to lay out or comp behind him for a verse. That being said, they probably could have worked out some cool harmonies if they rehearsed the song a bit.