I am interested in knowing about simple system flutes, like the Irish flute, that are currently being use for styles of music other than Celtic or other folk music. I have a recording of Hariprasad Chaurasia playing an Indian raga with his bamboo open hole flute, and it is amazing how expressive he can make that piece of bamboo sound. It seems to me that it would be an excellent instrument for jazz. Does anyone know of a jazz musician that plays a simple system flute?
Lots of Jazz musicians have used Bamboo flutes,and other ‘simple’ system Flutes of ethnic origin,since the 1950’s.
Some examples ,off the top of my head:
Yusef Lateef has played a whole range of Flutes since the 50’s-his flute researches were partly led by his embracing of Islam-he has used a lot of Arabic derived instruments and musicalforms/modes etc in his music (listen to his ‘Jazz’ Oboe playing for ex.-it’s sounds a bit like a Shenai)
The rise of ‘Black consciousness’ led to lots of muso’s experimenting with African/ethnic flutes from the 60’s onwards-Joseph Jarman,Maurice McIntyre,Don Raphael Garrett(mainly a Bass player,he used to build many of the flutes that he played)come immediately to mind.
Also,we mustn’t forget that the rise of ‘Modal’ jazz opened up the music to ‘new’ instruments from all over the world.
‘Irish’ style flutes are played in a cross over manner that has distinct ‘Jazz’ influences-Flook,Mike McGoldrick(the ‘Fused’ album).
The first 'Jazz; musician that I saw playing a Bamboo flute ‘live’ was Englishman Bob Downes,in the 1970’s.He played various Chinese and south American Flutes,and swung pretty well on those!
HOw does one do accidentals at speed on the
simple system? Lots of fast half holing?
I understand a Baroque flute is capable
but what about an Irish flute. Thanks
Indian bansuri players are the real monsters at that stuff–apparently, there are a couple of ragas that go alright, but the other seventy-odd ones in popular circulation require some serious half-holing and forked fingering.
Not that I actually know what I’m talking about. Anyone care to elaborate?
It depends. If you have a small holed flute, some may work, some not (you’ll be still missing the key). If you have a large holed flute, they probably won’t work at all. Here’s a (link to a) fingering chart: http://www.oldflutes.com/charts/onekey/index.htm
I’ve sometimes wondered what effect an Eb key would have on my Tony Dixon Polymer Flute.It is a small holed model,that I bet would respond well to the Baroque approach.
I see that Casey Burns offers an Eb key.
O.K.,I admit it-stuff the Flutes-it’s the periwig that I really fancy!
Doug, go and see that blues documenatry by Scorsese,
“Feels Like Going Home”
and you’ll see simple system home made cane flutes
used in the roots of blues going way way back.
If the type of jazz is close to blues
then the flute will be close to its heart …
I play Blues on simple instruments (including GHB) in an electric Blues band, and there’s really no problem if the key is right.
For a simple Flute in D, to me E is about the best Blues key but you need a really Bluesy Bb, try XXOXXX in the second octave.
It’s basically a G pentatonic with occasional Minor 3rd, therefore another possibility is an A pentatonic with a tonic of F# and an occasional C natural.
I use both these patterns on the Bombards I play, and it gives me access to Blues in D, E, (C Bombard) and C, D, (Bb).
All the above are for Minor type Blues but the same scales can be used to play the relative Major Blues for a D instrument in G and A.
Simple six-hole flutes with a flattened seventh, can play four pentatonic scales, D, G, A, C, so there are other possibilities.
John S
