NEWS... Les' Blog

NEWS... Interesting news items related to the clarinet will appear in this area. In the vernacular, you might call this my blog, though I must apologize in advance for my sporadic postings. I do try to get back here as often as I can to add interesting items, yet, you know what they say... "The pathway to perdition is paved with good intentions."

Please use my contact area when you have questions or might seek my advice. I'll share in this blog, in addition to my own news, your questions, concerns, issues and solutions that might inform or help us all. No worries... I'll always keep you anonymous.

Last summer, as principal clarinetist with the Lancaster Festival Orchestra, I was fortunate to collaborate with Richard Stoltzman on one of his latest recordings. What a thrill! The occasion was a new CD of the music of Pulitzer Prize and multiple Grammy award winning composer, William Bolcom, in celebration of his 70th birthday. My contribution, in roles supporting Stoltzman, included numerous Eb and soprano clarinet solos throughout the project. Bolcom clearly loves writing for the clarinet, and it was great to work with Richard again. He had last joined us at the Lancaster Festival in Ohio some six years earlier. I always find Richard to be very down to earth, humble, and unassuming... a great guy to just 'hang with' over beers at the jazz club. And what a musician! He is very deserving of his international acclaim.

I'm told the new recording will be titled, Ragomania!, after one of Bolcom's tunes, and it will be released on the Marquis label. Also contained on the disc is a great tune by Clare Fischer, noted west-coast composer and arranger. Titled, "The Duke, Swee'Pea and Me," the piece was written for and dedicated to Stoltzman in 1985, and it links the styles of 'Duke' Ellington, Billy Strayhorn and Richard's association with Benny Goodman. Check it out!

Last changed: Friday, 5th February, 2010 at 1:30 PM