The Jimmy Giuffre Clarinet

AMG Review of The Jimmy Giuffre Clarinet

Scott Yanow
All Music Guide

This continually interesting set finds Jimmy Giuffre sticking exclusively to his cool-toned clarinet, mostly playing in the lower register, in several settings. The thought-provoking and generally relaxed works feature a wide variety of instrumentation. Giuffre takes "So Low" as an unaccompanied solo, duets with Jimmy Rowles' celeste on "Deep Purple," plays a fairly free "Fascinatin' Rhythm" in a Benny Goodman-type trio with pianist Rowles and drummer Shelly Manne, performs with a couple of other trios (including a group consisting of his clarinet, an alto clarinetist, and a bass clarinetist), uses three flutes and drums on the atonal "The Side Pipers" and three woodwinds plus bassist Ralph Pena on an atmospheric "My Funny Valentine," concluding with a nonet lues. A very interesting album, last available as a 1984 Atlantic LP.