My favourite Clarinet players

As a jazz musician, I'm probably more influenced by other instrumentalists than clarinetists. With some exceptions, the great New Orleans players! I guess my focus is more on sound and feeling than technique, and that is also what I listen for in other players. I have not listed people like Artie Shaw, Buddy De Franco, Benny Goodman and Eddie Daniels . That does not mean that I don't like them, I just don't feel I'm particularly influenced by them.

Klick any of the names for more about the artist.
See also recommended listenings for some of my favourite clarinet music on record.

The New Orleans players and some great swing performers
Sidney Bechet, Barney Bigard, Albert Burbank, Louis Cotrell, Edmond Hall, Herb Hall, Willie Humphrey, Albert Nicholas, Omer Simeon, Lester Young

Modern jazz
Don Byron, James Carter, Dennis Collin, Eric Dolphy, Jimmie Giuffre, Perry Robinson, Louis Sclavis, Gianluigi Trovesi,

World music
Barbaros Erköse Gioria Feidman,

Classical, contemporary or whatever you call it
Gervase Du Peyer