Music Interviews Jazz Clarinetist Jimmy Giuffre: A Look Back GBH April 28, 2008 • Composer and jazz clarinetist Jimmy Giuffre, who died April 24, was an early pioneer of both the cool jazz and avant-garde jazz movements of the '50s and '60s. In Giuffre's honor, WGBH presents an audio documentary recorded in 1994. The program features Giuffre telling his story in his own words. Jazz Clarinetist Jimmy Giuffre: A Look Back 28:49 Toggle more options Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/90004452/89998065" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Jazz Clarinetist Jimmy Giuffre: A Look Back 28:49 Toggle more options Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/90004452/89998065" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
A classic West Coast jazz quartet: saxophonist Paul Desmond, drummer Joe Dodge, pianist Dave Brubeck, bassist Bob Bates. Hulton Archive/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Hulton Archive/Getty Images Take Five: A Jazz Sampler West Coast Cool: The Jazz Sound Of '50s California Jazz24 October 14, 2008 • As opposed to the hard-bop sound dominant on the East Coast during the '50s, the West Coast sound was a bit mellower and more lyrical, with blended harmonies and more interest in composition and arrangement than improvisation. In these five songs, you'll hear all the definitive aspects of the West Coast jazz sound.
