Edmond Hall - Quotes

Quotes

"For jazz clarinet give me Ed Hall - His feel for hot music is perfect!" - Benny Goodman

"As a soloist, Hall was outstanding. He brought the house down with his slow quiet "YOU MADE ME LOVE YOU" and the encore "SWEET GEORGIA BROWN" had the crowd yelling for more." - Music Maker (Sidney) May 1956 (wit Armstrong All Stars)

"Outstanding among the band members were pianist Billy Kyle and Clarinetist Edmond Hall. Hall a highly rated performer in the U.S., got through with his message with apparent ease, and rightly deserved his share of the applause." - Music Maker (Brisbaine) May 1956 (wit Armstrong All Stars)

"In the more musical portions of the program, which happens to be the segments devoted to jazz, the expected also occurred. Clarinetist Edmond Hall once more showed, with every note he blew, the best musicianship of any performer on stage." - The Globe & Mail (Toronto) 02/25/1958 (wit Armstrong All Stars)

"The show wasn't all Satchmo, clarinetist Edmond Hall, who nearly stole the whole shebang with skirling renditions of "SWEET GEORGIA BROWN" and "YOU MADE ME LOVE YOU." The Hartford Courant 04/26/58 (wit Armstrong All Stars) "Edmond Hall's return visit to Basin Street was an outstanding success. Playing with even more verve and excitement, This was the best clarinet we remember him play. Featuring numbers from his new album the fresh material made a pleasant change and Edmond Hall must be one of the hardest swinging musicians playing today." Coda March 1960

"He is a boy from my hometown, you know, and we have known each other for years. Been the best of friends and, you know, he is a fine clarinet man and I just want you to know that I am all for him. Edmond played with us so many years, may the Lord bless him, you know." LOUIS ARMSTRONG - Trumpet

"Edmond Hall Influenced a lot of clarinet players by his unique sound. Many people copied or tried to copy his sound, which is a great compliment. I met Edmond and his wife at a party Atco (records) gave me in their studio. They were a charming couple. Ed was a gentleman all around - and we got along very well." ACKER BILK - Clarinet

"Edmond Hall was a great clarinetist and a fine old southern style gentleman. I really enjoyed touring with him." CHRIS BARBER - Trombone

"Edmond Hall was an unbelievable player. I used to watch him, but I never heard him make a mistake. He was just a perfectionist. And he was wonderful, big hearted and a kind person and very, very much a gentleman. I remember once, I was building a house and I was talking to the guys in the band. about I had run out of money. And I said: "I have to go down more feet and I need more money!" And Edmond said: "How Much?" And he gave it to me. Condon's was the highlight of my life. At Condon's it was New Years every night. And it was a real pleasure to work there and to play with those guys. There was never a bad musician in that group. And Edmond Hall to me remains the best clarinet player I have ever heard." WILD BILL DAVISON - Cornet

"Ed Hall - YEAH! He was a great cat and a fine musician. Edmond and Trummy were the nicest guys. Ed is my man and I truly miss him." BARRETT DEEMS - Drums

"I never realized how great Edmond Hall really was until I got to work with him. Edmond was a giant on the clarinet. He was just a very nice and gentle man, never wanted trouble with people, never was really angry. I had a wonderful relationship with him." BUZZY DROOTIN - Drums

"His clarinet sounded like a human voice. What Louis Armstrong was for the trumpet was Edmond Hall on the clarinet. Could talk on his instrument." EDDIE DURHAM - Trombone

"I have to say I have played with many USA musicians visiting the UK, and Edmond Hall was the best and most enjoyable of all. A great man indeed." ALAN ELSDON - Trumpet

"The first time I met Edmond Hall was when he was with Teddy Wilson. That was a good band. But the first time I really worked with him was with Louis. In fact he was my room mate in Louis' band, and it was such a pleasure working with him, we had a lot of fun together. Edmond worked on that clarinet all the time. I remember Lake Tahoe rooming with him, he said: "Man, you better go now, I gotta practice now!" Yes, I got to know him very good from rooming with him. He never drank alcohol, never ate a lot. He told me: "I can't breathe after a big meal!" See the difference to me in Edmond and Barney is... Barney was beautiful and lyrical, Edmond punched, he popped it out, they were two of the greatest clarinetists, but their styles were different. Edmond had punch, the front line was always really poppin'. He would be among any top clarinet players in the world. He played SWEET GEORGIA BROWN and CLARINET MARMALADE and the one I loved most: DARDANELLA. It was a beautiful arrangement he did with Billy Kyle. Oh man, he really played that... he played the socks off that tune. We also made that record on MACK THE KNIFE and Edmond played a wonderful solo on that one. Ed Hall was a quiet person, very dignified. But you wouldn't believe he liked racing cars. He loved driving expensive, fast cars. This was his kind of relaxation. Edmond Hall to me was one of the most sensitive musicians, as far as people were concerned. He always worried about the underdog. I loved him for that. That is one thing I will always keep in my heart, how much he was for the underdog. TRUMMY YOUNG - Trombone