[Tradjazz] Kenny Davern

[Steve Barbone]

"Bill Barnes" <cleanhead77 at earthlink.net> wrote, (polite snip)

> Remembrances of Kenny Davern:
> Kenny always haunted music stores and pawn shops for old Conn
> clarinets, claiming that a certain type of Conn was the only true Bb
> clarinet, that all the others were converted from the key of A design.

Which reminds me that the last time Martha & I saw Kenny play, he was
playing a 1929 Conn (hard rubber?) clarinet which sounded just wonderful in
his hands.

When I asked him why, he said what Bill relates above. That it was a true Bb
instrument. He also said that the clarinet was perfect for all gigs except
the most demanding because it was not affected by humidity and so the pitch
always stayed true, indoors or out.

He also invited me to play it, but I declined. How as a journeyman jazz reed
player could I ever follow the master?

Also little know is that the Van Doren mouthpiece he used, 5JB, was his own
design which Van Doren built for him. Then when they sold it over the
counter, they gave him 500 of them, one of which I have and use every once
in a while. (Normally I use 5JBs which I bought over the counter) For the
next few months, I will use the one he gave me.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone