The clarinet in jazz very often conjures up imagery of New Orleans band jazz or Dixieland music. It is a deep resonating soul charged woodwind instrument.
The B-flat clarinet in the instrument’s family is probably the one that is best known; a standard chosen instrument in school music programs. Eric Dolphy played the bass clarinet. Its tone plumbs the depths of the most intimate soulful expression. Don Byron was asthmatic as a child. There was music in the family, both parents played instruments. To act as some breathing therapy for asthma Byron’s doctor suggested playing a wind instrument. Don chose the clarinet. An unforgiving instrument to learn to play at first as many can attest to listening to beginners work at making it make sound. When it is commanded, it is beautifully an extension of the voice with an equal dynamic range.
Byron was exposed to all kinds of different music that included the instrument, and his parents encouraged a wide range of influences including Bernstein, Gillespie, and other masters of jazz. Byron’s clarinet cries and laughs, coaxes, and draws the listener in to places of sound that are often very delicate and gently exposed. The sound resonates with all emotions and holds the listener’s ear. It is an experience of a soundscape embrace.