[Alan H]

Sir John played a pivotal role in my development, essentially through just one concert. I saw him and Cleo at UCSB in 1975. He opened the show with a small band, and played three tunes on clarinet. It was, literally, the first time I'd heard jazz clarinet live, outside of a few local, very trad guys in my town of Carmel California. We had the "Abalone Stompers"...which was very traditional. To hear Sir John play opened my19-year old eyes to other possibilities.

Then of course Cleo came on and the rest of the show was incredible...

So I've wondered, what did he use?

In this video, there's some close up footage of him, and folks who know mouthpieces can get a look at what he's using

at about 45-55 seconds in.

Later on in his life he used a metal mouthpiece.

Anybody got any clues what these pieces are?

 

[Benny]

I reckon the metal is a Lawton

 

[KMR]

In the later stages of his life he was using a Buffet S1, with a Lawton mouthpiece.

 

[rhysonsax]

In the later stages of his life he was using a Buffet S1, with a Lawton mouthpiece.

I think that John had a Lawton metal from the late 60s or early 70s and he did play a Buffet alto, I think originally because of a deal for him to play a Buffet clarinet.

He also played a 1921 Hawkes C-Melody that cost him £80 in about 1980. On the C-Melody used a Lawton ebonite (one source said plastic, but I doubt it) Lawton tenor mouthpiece, specially adapted for him by Geoff Lawton and using tenor reeds.

Rhys

 

[10mfan]

John and Cleo were fabulous together! I haven’t heard his name in quite some time, so it was a pleasant surprise to see a post asking about his set up. I’m going to listen now. Thanks for the post.

 

[BBMozee]

Sir John played a pivotal role in my development, essentially through just one concert. I saw him and Cleo at UCSB in 1975. He opened the show with a small band, and played three tunes on clarinet. It was, literally, the first time I'd heard jazz clarinet live, outside of a few local, very trad guys in my town of Carmel California. We had the "Abalone Stompers"...which was very traditional. To hear Sir John play opened my19-year old eyes to other possibilities.

Then of course Cleo came on and the rest of the show was incredible...

So I've wondered, what did he use?

In this video, there's some close up footage of him, and folks who know mouthpieces can get a look at what he's using

at about 45-55 seconds in.

Later on in his life he used a metal mouthpiece.

Anybody got any clues what these pieces are?

John and Cleo were fabulous together! I haven't heard his name in quite some time, so it was a pleasant surprise to see a post asking about his set up. I'm going to listen now. Thanks for the post.

I was at that same concert! Absolutely memorable. They were flawless and fun. Edward Bear of KSAN fame sat behind me and was thrilled as well. Met Cleo and John after the show. It was like meeting royalty!