[vanhodges]

Hello,

Does anyone know the specifics of Hymie Schertzer, Willie Schwartz, and Hank Freeman's set-ups?

It seems that fewer and fewer musicians recognize the above mentioned names. I'm hoping to learn more about their playing and spread the knowledge to as many people as I can.

For what its worth, I know that Wilbur Schwartz played a Selmer bass clarinet circa 1920s that featured a double octave mechanism which was later converted to a single.

I believe Hymie Schertzer played a cigar-cutter but I'm not sure.

Any knowledge would be appreciated.

Thank you,
Brian

 

[saxtek]

I worked on Hank Freeman's horn. Late in his career he was using a Mark VI alto with a white Brilhart Tonalin mouthpiece.

My MYSPACE music page:

http://www.myspace.com/saxpsychosis

 

[vanhodges]

wow

Thanks. A great start. Do you know what he played with Goodman?

 

[saxtek]

Thanks. A great start. Do you know what he played with Goodman?

No. His Mark VI was made in the 1960s so I'm sure he used a different horn with Goodman.

 

[martinm5862]

Hymie Schertzer definitely played a cigar cutter alto. According to an old ad he played an Otto Link Eburnated Rubber mouthpiece #4.
Martin

 

[BarrySachs]

Dan Levinson, from Vince Giordano's band, has Hymie's Buffet clarinet. I don't know Hymie's Goodman era alto set-up, but after he left Goodman, he was on staff at NBC in NYC. He played a Selmer "cigar cutter" alto. I'm not sure what mouthpiece, I'll have to ask Jerry Sanfino, his old pal from those days.

BTW, jerry sat next to Skeets Herfurt in Alvino Rey's band. Skeets was a great lead alto man in the Benny Carter mould.

 

[vanhodges]

Skeets Herfurt

Does anyone know Skeets's set-up?

I seem to remember him playing a Claude Lakey but I'm not sure. I became familiar with Skeets Herfurt through his tenure with the Lawrence Welk band.

Dave Edwards, long time lead alto with Lawrence Welk, helped me get my first professional horn...a gold plated cigar cutter. Dave was such an inspiration and was very nice to me.

 

[vanhodges]

Jerry Sanfino

Does Jerry Sanfino still play? Is he in good health?

I'm trying to find out more about the big band alto players during the 1930s &1940s. I think their section playing is some of the best ever recorded. I would like to learn more about their equipment, ability to blend, and so on.

I found a picture of Hal McIntyre playing a plated cigar cutter alto.

I was told Willie Schwartz's clarinet mouthpiece was so open there were only two ways to play it.....on and off!

Thanks for your time and help.

 

[vanhodges]

Here is what I've found so far.

Arnold Brilhart..........Cigar-Cutter

Benny Carter...........26M-switched to Selmer in the late 40s

Jimmy Dorsey...........Dorsey Model

Dave Edwards..........Cigar Cutter.................................Selmer C*

Al Galladoro.......... ...Selmer Cigar-Cutter, MK6 GP...........Dick Stabile

Otto Hardwick..........Conn 6M

Woody Herman.........Cigar Cutter

Johnny Hodges.........Conn 6M '30s-40s.........................Metal Master Link
.............................Buescher Aristocrat......................Brilhart Tonalin
.............................Buescher 400..............................HR Berg Larsen
.............................Vito w/High F#

Hal McIntyre............Cigar Cutter

Tommy Newson........Cigar Cutter................................ Leonard Gullota 5*

Russell Procope........Buescher Aristocrat...................... Brilhart Tonalin

Marshall Royal.........6M GP #25X,XXX...........................Lelandais,
.............................................................................Conn "comet" (runyon)#7/ Brilhart

Hymie Schertzer......Cigar Cutter

Willie Smith............6M switched to an early Selmer BA ca.1950 w/Duke & Harry James ...Lelandais Streamline

Frank Wess............Conn 6m/switched to MK6 Selmer......Beechler

 

[vanhodges]

Any additions

Any additions are welcomed.

Looking for alto saxophone players predominately from the 1930s and 1940s.

Thank you!

 

[vanhodges]

Les Brown played a 1936 Balanced Action.

 

[BarrySachs]

You didn't mention Dave Mathews, Julie Schwartz, Sam Marowitz, Hilton Jefferson or Earle Warren.

 

[Tryptykon]

... or Porter Kilbert.

 

[martinm5862]

You didn't mention Dave Mathews, Julie Schwartz, Sam Marowitz, Hilton Jefferson or Earle Warren.

Sam Marowitz played a Tonalin.

 

[martinm5862]

Any additions are welcomed.

Looking for alto saxophone players predominately from the 1930s and 1940s.

Thank you!

Don't forget Sid Cooper. Great lead alto mid 40's with Tommy Dorsey, later with Sauter Finnegan Orch., NBC, Claude Thornhill, Sinatra east coast orch.
Selmer BA.

Martin

 

[Benny]

isn't Wilbur Schwartz's bass clarinet now owned by Ted Nash?

 

[vanhodges]

What equipment did they play?

I didn't necessarily forget them. I just don't know what equipment they used. Please keep the information flowing as far as equipment.

Thank you so much.

 

[vanhodges]

Earle Warren

I believe Earle Warren played a 6M..

 

[sideC]

Tab Smith played a 6m.

Hilton Jefferson played a large bore, then a new balanced action.

Les Robinson played a balanced action.

Ted Buckner played a 6m.

Clarence Hutchinrider played balanced action.

 

[littlemanbighorn]

Otto Hardwick..........Conn 6M

Johnny Hodges.........Conn 6M '30s-40s.........................Metal Master Link
.............................Buescher Aristocrat......................Brilhart Tonalin
.............................Buescher 400..............................HR Berg Larsen
.............................Vito w/High F#

Anyone know anything about the tip openings on Toby and Rabbit's mouthpieces?