Bruno Ghezzi – John French’s Q&As 2000/1

In early / mid 2000 John French called on Radar Station visitors for some help writing his book, Beefheart: Through The Eyes Of Magic…

From: Bruno Ghezzi
Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2000 4:48 PM

Hi Drumbo, I think that “Dachau Blues” is the only cut Don plays bass clarinet on; in fact, it is a twin bass clarinet workout in which both Don and Mascara Snake play bass clarinet. There is no other cut on Trout Mask Replica in which Don plays b.c. My question is: Is this true?

Bruno,

This is a tough one for me to answer as I wasn’t at the session. I always assumed Don was playing bass clarinet, and as I recall he said he was. I don’t think there was more than one BC on the cut as I recall, but I could be wrong. I’ll listen and ask around. Dachau Blues is one of my all-time favourites, as I believe the Holocaust cannot be forgotten. We need to be reminded of the atrocities we are capable of if we take a wrong turn. I don’t think people realise how easily that situation could happen again.

Back to the question, however. I wasn’t a big fan of some of Don’s woodwind work, but I thought he played brilliantly on Dachau Blues. I do believe it is only he playing.

– John French

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