The Jazz Clarinet: October 2026

Sunday, October 25, 2026

One Million Views for The Jazz Clarinet & Beyond

Earlier this summer, for the first time in many years, I checked the overall stats of this blog - and was somewhat shocked to see it nearing the milestone of one million overall views.

When I started this project in December of 2011, I was still recovering from open heart surgery and had been unable to play professionally for many years. Frustrated by both the lack of serious attention to the clarinet in jazz histories, and neglect of the old large bore instruments that yielded the warm, powerful, and beautiful sound that the jazz masters of the instrument had developed from the 1920s through the 1960s especially, I decided to start publishing my thoughts.

My goal was twofold:

1. To assert, promote, and even prove the importance of clarinetists in the history of jazz.

2. To educate and inspire others to investigate the sound world of vintage instruments - especially Selmers, Conns, and Leblancs that had shaped the sounds of Jimmie Noone, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Pete Fountain - the clarinetists who had made the instrument one of the most popular of the 20th century.

When asked my goals, I'd often state bluntly "This is a propaganda blog. I shamelessly promote jazz clarinet."

If, over the years, I've inspired any of you to listen, learn, play, gig, I'm deeply grateful. I hope all of you who have read things here have been encouraged on your musical journey in whatever way that has taken shape.

Below are some photos from the blog's history.

Here's to the next million views!