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“For 23 years I performed
in the CSO on a Woodwind B6 that Elmer Aiello had "customized"
for me. I never had a real backup that I was comfortable with, nor
could I get copies for students after Elmer was no longer working.
Each tour made me nervous in case anything happened to it. About 3
years ago Walter Grabner contacted me and brought me some
mouthpieces to try. Encouraged by what I tried, we embarked on
a long quest to come up with a terrific bass clarinet mouthpiece. Walter would bring me a new
mouthpiece to try and we would have long discussions about what we
thought was good and bad about this newest version.
We had started with one blank, tried several others,
and eventually ended up with a Zinner
blank. Again came many versions making small changes to make the
mouthpiece more what I had in mind.
At the time all I was
looking for was a good backup mouthpiece. Instead, I have now been
playing the new CXZ_LB Bass Clarinet mouthpiece in the orchestra and in
solo and chamber settings for about 6 months. The sound is warm and
the clarity is fantastic. I have no problem finding reeds for this
mouthpiece, and it's easy to find the real pitch center of a note.
There is a terrific ring in the sound, making it possible to cut through
the orchestra when I need to, and a great warmth
that blends well with the section. I couldn't be happier with this
mouthpiece, and the work Walter has put into it. While no
mouthpiece works for everybody, give it a try and see if it doesn't make
playing the bass easier for you. I think you might be as pleased as
I am.”
May 2006 JLB
J. Lawrie
Bloom
Chicago Symphony Orchestra, clarinet and bass
clarinet www.cso.org
Artistic Co-Director, Eastern Shore
Chamber Music Festival www.musicontheshore.org
clarinetist, Rembrandt Chamber
Players www.rembrandtchamberplayers.org
Artist Clinician, Buffet Crampon
USA Inc., RICO International
Northwestern University School
of Music, Assistant
Professor
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