the dirtiest clarinet solo

A transcription of Victor Lawton's incredible clarinet solo on "Blues to Be There", performed by The Dillard Center for the Arts at Essentially Ellington 2019. This entire song and performance are just unreal, and this solo is outstanding. I hope you enjoy the transcription!
Original: • Essentially Ellington ...

[@wortyle]

Squidward’s been real quiet ever since this dropped

[@lioniate2917]

Lol

[@revo6768]

🤭😅

[@BlessedOne686]

😂

[@chompy6036]

lets keep it that way that mf sucks

[@chompy6036]

i know they be sayin practice makes perfect but squidward the exception

[@simdivya]

can we all just take a moment to appreciate the bass player's stank face

[@joebungus3447]

I was literally about to comment that😂

[@barryschwarz]

Ahyup, first thing hit my brain was the mmm-mm-nnnn face.

[@REChronic54]

My man feeling the groove AND he never missed a note.

[@DjNoTips]

Lol

[@nadiradutt8470]

HE'S FEELING IT

[@maxbehymer8535]

no way, I went to school with this guy man's KILLER at clarinet

[@mythicalmop2354]

Nice

[@haydenmarshall3175]

Hi Max

[@maxbehymer8535]

@@haydenmarshall3175 what up Hayden how's the Halloween concert going?

[@haydenmarshall3175]

@@maxbehymer8535 it was super killer last night !!

[@a.g.m.s_1916]

Hi max !! How’ve you been recently dude ?! Missed you loads ❤

[@briangruenewald7536]

1:39 I’ve played the clarinet for 10 years, and I have NEVER heard anyone play a C that high so cleanly (ON PURPOSE). Absolutely stunning!

[@malcolmthebear]

Judging from that audience gasp immediately in its wake, I doubt anyone there had heard such a clean high C like that either.

[@quinnsanderson7263]

I found how to hit it: you need to almost squeak the very high g note on clarinet (4th octave G) and it comes out as a mildly in tune 4th ocatve C

[@ElwoodBRICKS]

@@malcolmthebear I can barley hit a high b… this is my third year of playing clarinet

[@hj2365]

you know, don’t mean to brag but i can hit a high c easy god bless piano

[@Horaheehoo]

​@@hj2365 piano players smh. Try playing high on bari sax. Anything above alto sax range is killer

[@trtl9106]

Everything about this is perfect. The bass player's stank face, the insanely clean runs, the growls and the high notes, and it looks like everyone in the audience and on stage is melting into this man's clarinet rizz

[@jaheriawilson19]

shiett man if i got hit with some clarinet rizz irl, I think I'd start foaming at the mouth

[@GHOSTGARAGE7]

the bass players face got me good

[@ang3l002]

And my high school band said clarinets weren’t jazz instruments:////

[@Q_Tard]

Whoever said that should be fired immediately.

[@xeon2773]

idk probably cause most charts that hs bands play dont require doubling or dont have clarinet parts written (thats the case for me so i just learned tenor sax too lol)

[@imaddatu6819]

If clarinets aren’t jazz instruments, then ask the band to explain Benny Goodman, jeez

[@brucewayne4172]

The entire city of New Orleans had a stroke upon reading this

[@jimmycrackcorn2516]

There is a lot of ignorance in the world.

[@th3j0t46]

This is simply amazing. I wish I could get that high C on my clarinet xD

[@gabeitches7965]

I can do it but sounds like dogshit 👍

[@ivyart3737]

You can do it! it sounds like dogshit too when i just started doing it Xd and after practicing it fot month it's gotten really smooth and beautiful

[@SaxmanR3]

@@gabeitches7965 long tones my guy

[@admiredemonz_yt6156]

I don’t even know the fingering for it… no clue hiw

[@ivyart3737]

@@admiredemonz_yt6156 Thumb and register

[@geofixated]

I used to think that below a certain point there wasn't enough air crossing the reed for it to vibrate. I stand corrected.

[@russelljazzbeck]

Yea his dynamics are masterful

[@Phyrre56]

It requires tremendous embouchure control to go from that crazy high C down to low register notes in a laid back tone.

[@adore7248]

I have played clarinet for almost 4 years now and this is INSANE to watch

[@parkerblackinton4340]

There’s a song called Lonely street by count Basie I’d love to see transcribed but totally understand if you don’t want to!

[@jarprt7071]

Played this song in highschool. Such a lovely song!

[@loganjohnson8010]

I see what you did there

[@andrewschnautz2461]

i’m playing it right now

[@connorfitzhugh9572]

the absolute stank on that was incredible

[@Victor_C_LawtonII_Music]

Thanks for posting this, much appreciated!!

[@elias465]

deserved bro you are legendary

[@soldi_0443]

your amazing!

[@jackcrawford304]

As a new clarinet player and Sax player first, I freaking love your style and I’m a big fan of Johnny Hodges and I love that kind of Duke style. Absolutely rich!

[@theblackbasketball]

Bro you’re amazing

[@charlielove.]

This was so good! I wish I could see more of it. Bravo

[@hanfpeter4190]

The bassists face says it all

[@DJCloudy_]

Can we all just take a moment to appreciate how flawlessly he hit that C? Those high notes are very hard to get right even while practicing and taking your time.

[@carlitosignacio5679]

The clarinet solo unleashed a pungent, almost tangible stank, its notes oozing with a heavy, musky intensity that filled the room, creating an atmosphere thick with raw, earthy musical vigor.

[@Sewer.R4tz]

As a clarinet player, this takes my breath away. Literally

[@Brady-rz6vq]

Can we appreciate how good his growl is!

[@Vyyy290]

ive waited for this to get transcribed, this is such a good solo!!

[@alztero]

Is he human

[@natemiller926]

No

[@GamerTime_2002]

I wished I could be as calm as him

[@blitzal7174]

I was already loving this because of the cleanness of the runs and beautiful sound, but then that C came out of nowhere and with such a good tone too, absolutely amazing.

[@ribofen]

It's so laid back in tuning and beat. And that's a good thing.

[@crucial0072]

Not the dirtiest but definitely filthy. Wash several times before drying.

[@i_am_a_music_maker5212]

Only a legend can play the same 2 notes for 10 bars and make a convincing solo out of it, this guy fucking kills it

[@johnjames98]

This speaks to Russell Procope's intonation and style of bluesy solo technique. He should really try something like "Mood Indigo"

[@RIPvizzini]

The bassist's groove in the background is 😘🤌🛸

[@keegantheclarinetist]

What a legend!! Hits a C8 without even trying! Wish I could hit that note!

[@clemnthyme8700]

“ridiculously smooth” 😂😂 what a great performance!

[@grantblevins4351]

Composer gave him the signal and he came thru

[@Chimera6297]

damn, double C on a clarinet I didn't know that was possible. then again wtf do I know, I don't play a clarinet

[@gogo-xf2nv]

USER?????

[@littleblackrail]

0:51 damn bro I was making the same exact face as the dude in the back lol

[@viergeniegeneus3704]

It still blows me that this is my high school jazz band

[@yoongitrash2699]

huh????

[@viergeniegeneus3704]

@@yoongitrash2699 I went to Dillard

[@HebrewJerusalemBoy]

Fort Lauderdale?

[@Controlbro]

Squidward could never

[@nathancollins1715]

This is what Squidward hears in his head when he plays

[@apostoliagkolfinopoulou3776]

Best thing I've heard in a long time . Id pay serious money to see him play in person wow

[@victorblakely6355]

The bass/cello player has the right face 🤣

[@hanah.kim06]

Was grooving like the guy on bass the whole time

[@tamentatsu3219]

I have played clarinet for 20 years and I NEVER sounded like that. He has MASS TALENT!!!!❤❤❤❤❤❤ and the SWAG on those notes just hit home so hard it made me feel like I was in New Orleans at jazzfest.

[@abdullahaddous7081]

This is how squidward thought he played.

[@DizzyDebacles]

I love how everyone in the background is just like 😤

[@LandoCalani]

OK. That was really impressive. Hands down one of the most awesome performances I've seen and listened to.

[@coolhandphilip]

I'm proud to say I could nail that high C back in the day. But this guy is in a different league. He's probably the best jazz clarinetist alive.

[@q12aw50]

Definitely not💀💀💀 what the fuck are you smoking he’s a highschooler. If I had to name the best current jazz clarinetist I would probably go Doreen Ketchens but NOT him💀

[@shoetube]

He has such a light touch! I love it!

[@judybash9393]

Dude playing the bass is feeling the whole thing.. he's like😒😠🫤😕☹️😐

[@mattw4065]

Holy cow, Victor made that look simple!! He's outta this world

[@skylineboy001]

That was lovely!!

[@gabagool8191]

Absolutely amazing

[@MediumCheeseCurd]

Everytime this comes on my recommended I watch it. It's beautiful.

[@beat8121]

Absolutely beautiful

[@obikenobi9775]

I love how at the start the bassist was just vibing in the back

[@lyndafoster9437]

Fantastic. Fabulous tone

[@jeanlucdecoster]

1:01 *ridiculously smooth*

[@xenophile84]

Phenomenal clarinet playing!

[@bobhellmann2179]

Absolutely awesome!

[@bennhodapp]

24,000 people made the stank face while watching this video.

[@honeybunny6873]

As a clarinet player. I aspire to me this smooth and clean! Good god I’m in love! 😮

[@outdoorz5283]

Chills, literal chills

[@Imbrandotv]

That was awesome!

[@Alieniz]

Just found this beauty!!!

[@WatchDoggyDog]

an emphatic statement of class and blues 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@Allen1029]

Many many layers of magnificent here.

[@maark2k1]

im a rap guy and i think this solo is awesome, this clarinet player is awesome and this genre is awesome

[@NatureHeadSupreme]

Love seeing the young folks ❤❤

[@real_lampcap]

Absolutely brilliant. I love playing my clarinet but i cant imagine ever doing that.

[@Ottawa3453]

That part really was ridiculously smooth! :D

[@MaxHolleyBC]

Buttery smooth

[@CSUnger]

Nothing but admiration for what it took for him to get there. Bravo.

[@lyndafoster9437]

OMG FABULOUS!!!

[@malikmcgowan6147]

Omg I went to middle school with this guy! He was so good in middle school band and is amazing now!! 🤩🤩🤩

[@enrjyzrb9857]

Damn! No words! Awesome!!!

[@q12aw50]

That’s 4 words

[@jennndu]

This is amazing

[@maxwellmartins]

The dude in the background and his face.

[@ForestsAndSunsets]

That C was AWESOME!!

[@herbertcagejr9833]

This was nice!! 👏🏽👏🏽👍🏽👍🏽

[@ashlynkeyser3197]

When I was in High School some kid tried to prevent clarinets from joining Jazz band claiming it wasn't a jazz instrument. This video completely blows that stupid argument out of the water.

[@q12aw50]

Students don’t have the authority in a school

[@andrewdozier3920]

That shit was absolutely amazing. Specially when he hit that C that was like 3 octaves up

[@plainoldcheese]

so much dynamics

[@barelyexisting...]

Wish we had him back in the days

[@MrZega000]

Ridiculously smooth

[@snobbyjazsax3803]

ooooooooo that was fire

[@Jocaldo]

I was like it’s over already!🥺

[@dwilks121685]

Wow I played clarinet for years and that high c is a tough note to hit! Way to go bro!

[@BARBECUE_GUN]

thats beautiful.

[@sorinhaa]

Superb!!!

[@nakawaka4312]

Damn this is amazing

[@kiviskool]

bro had a good reed that day

[@shalomsims4280]

"Ridiculously smooth" is the craziest annotation I've ever seen on a piece of music.😂😂

[@msdaynah1]

Well done 👏🏾👏🏾❤️❤️

[@justintyler4814]

playing this with a straight proffessional face is wild

[@MFYouTube683]

Amazing ❤

[@coda.8434]

"his runs are insane oh my gosh" LMAO

[@8-bitfin768]

even the notes look mischievous

[@SFTElbat]

God I love squilliam’s playing

[@chosendisciple1176]

Wonderful

[@oliverturan2243]

gotta love bassman's stank-face

[@amplify3735]

that was amazing

[@nasaint2982]

It’s not fair. I wish I was this good at something. LOL Dillard High, you guys are amazing.

[@rwpintx]

OMG perfection!

[@tfh5575]

this is crazy. kid got soul

[@thepowers100]

This excerpt made me finally understand how Francis Poulenc’s Clarinet Sonata was inspired by Jazz

[@user-ix4rh1bj7v]

bruhhhh so good