Outstanding Clarinetists in the History of Jazz – Part 10
Eddie Daniels
A series by József Fritz
November 6, 2023
It is not customary in this series to include still-active musicians, but in this case, the featured artist simply cannot be left out.
Eddie Daniels was born in 1941 in New York, the child of parents who had emigrated from Romania.
At the age of 13, he added the clarinet alongside the alto saxophone.
At 15, his participation in the Newport Jazz Festival’s young talent competition marked an important milestone.
In the 1960s, he joined well-known ensembles such as the Thad Jones–Mel Lewis Big Band, where he primarily played tenor saxophone, while also doubling on flute and clarinet.
His first album as a leader, “First Prize,” was released in 1966, following his first-place ranking in DownBeat Magazine. This was followed by another album in 1968.
His real breakthrough came in 1973 with a duo album recorded with guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli (A Flower in All Seasons – Choice Records), where one side featured him on flute, and the other on clarinet. The album also included classical works interpreted in his own unique style.
During the 1970s, he performed as a featured soloist with many leading ensembles.
His major success arrived in 1986, when he recorded for Dave Grusin’s GRP label as its new clarinet star (Breakthrough). This album featured classical works in jazz arrangements, allowing him to break into both the jazz and classical clarinet markets.
Among these recordings is Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach’s “Solfeggietto,” which remains part of today’s clarinet repertoire.
This was followed by “To Bird with Love,” a tribute album dedicated to Charlie Parker, which may be considered his most important recording—at least from a jazz listener’s perspective.
The session featured Fred Hersch (piano), John Patitucci (bass), and Al Foster (drums), delivering authentic small-combo jazz throughout.
In the years that followed – thanks in part to the global CD boom – his albums were released and sold worldwide, becoming widely accessible.
Among these is the tribute album to Benny Goodman, “Benny Rides Again,” featuring Gary Burton, Mulgrew Miller, Marc Johnson, and Peter Erskine.
In 1995, he recorded a classical and jazz interpretation of Antonio Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons,” arranged by the outstanding Don Sebesky. This project can be considered one of the most significant achievements of his career.
Since then, Daniels has continuously worked to blend the worlds of clarinet and saxophone, using every opportunity to promote both instruments and the musical genre itself.
Why is Eddie Daniels important in the context of jazz clarinet literature?
We must speak of him as one of the four clarinetists who were able to perfectly balance the instrument and the musical language, never allowing one to dominate at the expense of the other.
These four artists are:
Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Buddy DeFranco, and Eddie Daniels.
All four came from a classical clarinet background. This is clearly reflected in their work:
• Benny Goodman collaborated with Stravinsky, Bernstein, and Copland
• Artie Shaw’s cadenzas reflect the modernism of 20th-century composers
• Buddy DeFranco recorded Scheherazade in his early years and later wrote études inspired by contemporary music
• Eddie Daniels himself recorded classical albums, in addition to his many crossover projects
While Goodman was the pioneer of post-dixieland swing, and Shaw blended swing with modern elements, DeFranco brought the clarinet into bebop, and Daniels infused the clarinet tradition with Coltrane-inspired concepts, enriching its literature and history.
Today, he continues to tour the world as a representative of Backun instruments, performing actively.
We hereby also extend our best wishes for continued good health to the 82-year-old artist.