Every since Irving Fazola clarinet players have tried to get what they call the 'Fat Dark Mellow Tone' and Pete Fountain flat nails it! Currently he is 76 and still swingin. This video was made around 1992. Enjoy!
My day was a student with Pete at Warren Easton High School. Pete played nightly on Bourbon Street for $150 a night. During daily classes Pete's Clarinet never left his side. During recess and at games Pete would play for large groupings of students. He was a star from an early age.
I grew up as a very young boy loving this music. My brother is the best clarinet player I have ever heard besides this fine gentleman. He could play right along with Pete by ear from the record. It influenced my whole life and my passion for New Orleans. I loved this music long before I got into rock and made the city my home. I love Dixieland and Pete and New Orleans. It lead to a lifetime of me playing professionally. Go Saints!
I just can't get enough Pete. He is the real deal. The heart and soul of New Orleans. I have been infulenced by this music since almost birth and it just gets deep down inside of you. He improvises on this version in a way that is so incredible you wonder where in the heck it is coming from. Though I play rock I love this music. Rock on Pete!
Just heard the news that Pete died this morning at 5 AM at his Mississippi home (Aug 6, 2016). RIP Pete. I've never heard a better clarinet player than you. You were so smooth.
I use to manage a hotel in Biloxi Mississippi he owned. Pete Fountains "Buena Vista" it was on the beach. There's nut'n else better than seeing him live. A plate full of crab, a few oysters.. and the sound of Pete... Thanks for posting... brings back memories.
I've followed Pete's music since I was 9 years old. That's when I started playing clarinet, 52 years ago. Still playing and still trying to mimic him...lol.....He's for sure the King of Clarinets for his time. There's no one like him, and probably won't be. He's one of a kind. God Bless you Pete.
My sister butchered the clarinet in her bedroom for years until I hated the sound of the instrument. Then I heard Mr. Fountain and was blown away (in a good way, finally). Tender, smooth, cool and hot. This is one of my favorites of his music. Thanks for posting, Jim.
Their are certain musicians who epitomize the best there is on certain instruments, the ones who all others try to emulate without success. Earl Scruggs on banjo, Doc Watson on flat pick guitar, Louis Armstrong on trumpet.........and Pete Fountain on clarinet. They all set the standard which others strive to achieve.
Had the good fortune to hear Pete play at Ravinia Amphitheater in Highland Park, Illinois.....that was about 1964 or 1965. I'm more Blues and Rock than Jazz, but that was a treat.
James and all. As much as we love jazz, we honor Pete Fountain in superlatives. But wait. We're leaving out smooth Pete's primary muse. Johnny Dodds was the genius pioneer of jazz clarinet, and all jazz clarinetists owe him their primary debt. I'm not trying to say Johnny is better than Pete. It's art, and after all the technical stuff is discussed, we each have our favorite styles and artists. -Doug Pratt, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Thank You for the comment. I play clarinet and Pete has been my idol for over 40 years. I've listened to a lot of clarinet players and no one plays so sweet and with so much feeling as Pete Fountain.
8 лет назад
Rest in Peace, Pete, thanks for leaving such great music for us all to groove too. Another great one to join the heavenly band, I bet it sounds amazing up there
Been listening to Pete since 1958...have most of his LPs- I was hooked from the first beautiful-toned note.. what a great swinging player- why don't we have a "National Living Treasure" award like Japan where the ARTIST is acknowledged BEFORE he leaves his body....
I wanted to be Pete when I grew up. I played for 18 years until the Navy took me to Vietnam. I realized that I had skill from playing so long but had no God given talent and I put up my clarinet. Still have it and pull it out once in a while but have never blown another note.
First heard Pete Fountain when I was little back in the late 70's. My Grandma had all his records. I used to listen to them on her Montgomery Wards record player. My favorite was Gotta Travel On...still looking for that song.
Pete fountain is amazing! I heard him in NO in 1978 and my parents used to listen to him. My dad would pick up our little toy poodle and dance around the room listening to PF!
Well said. His style influenced me heavily, and I played the trumpet. I would watch Lawrence Welk every weekend with my mother, just so I could here him play. He is in a category all to himself.
I was a deckhand back in 1994 on the Delta Queen and I was able to watch him play when he would come aboard. We would pull over and pick him up on the side of the river, I would help him ono the gangway and he always tried to tip me. He was a really nice guy.
Pete is the sweetest guy; like a lovable teddy bear. I met him in 1982. I have a big picture of the two of us which I'll cherish forever. I wondered if he stayed in New Orleans after Katrina? Is his wife Beverly still living? I love Pete and his clarinet. Forever a FAN.
This is awesome... I'm a clarinet player myself, and we're doing this very song in my school band, and I'm the clarinet soloist. This is gonna be in the back of my mind the whole time. C:
i was hooked on this song the first time i heard it, the way he closes his eyes and plays is awsome, and i copyed him perfectly with my clarinet, it sound horrible on the bar count 16 cuz i messed my E up and hit D
We 🇳🇱met him at the Hilton New Orleans and because we were staying at the Royal Sonesta we could D go every night in 1995: incl our son who studied in US in those days
Seems there's some tradition amongst players to have small quotes when soloing. It can be great fun, sometimes they are intended for a specific listener for fun (at least in my experience) Listen for "na na - na na - boo boo", it comes up once in a while in jazz solos.
I wish the johhny carson collection would put some of petes apperences on from the tonite show. i have a lot of video of him from the tonite show(and in stereo hi fi vcr back then lolol) maybe i should post them the quality and audio are great.....
@sitarnut Not to anyone in particular. I've always loved Pete. Everyone please check out Ken Peplowski and Dick Hyman's new CD entitled E Pluribus Duo. Some of the most original clari-sax playing ever.
Basin street....great number....I´ve just listened to a band called OK-DREAMBAND. The clarinetplayer sounds ver similar to Pete. The cd (iTunes) is called "Clarinet-Dreams".Is it possible, that Fountain was the clarinetist? Track 1, "Your Eyes Are So Blue" is fine....
Hey Jim, Do you know of any footage of Pete playing at his club at the NO Hilton? I saw him play there in 86 or 87... sat at the bar and wasn't 20 feet away from him. What a fantastic show!!
