Today in Jazz - Pete Fountain

July 4, 12:45 AMSF Jazz Music ExaminerT. Richard Newcomb

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Pete Fountain at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Show, 2006

The week of June 29 - July 3 includes the birthdays of a plethora of jazz icons. One of the great names is that of Pete Fountain the traditional jazz clarinetist.

Pete Fountain was born surprisingly late for someone who is so closely associated with the traditional jazz sometimes known as Dixieland. He was born as Pierre Dewey LaFontaine on July 3, 1930 in the city of New Orleans, and got his start playing with the famed ensemble led by trumpeter Al Hirt. He became widely known playing jazz solos on the long-running Lawrence Welk show. After his career with Welk ended (he was reputedly fired by Welk for adding jazz to a Christmas solo against the bandleader's wishes) he returned to New Orleans, where he joined the Dukes of Dixieland. He subsequently led his own group and today holds forth at 'Pete Fountain's Jazz CLub' at the Riverside Hilton.

Fountain's style is marked by a huge sound, much darker and deeper than most jazz clarinetists. However, he also has prodigious technical proficiency and is able to easily negotiate the most challenging musical phrases. Fountain is generally considered to be one of the top clarinetists in the genre, though he is known for frequently stepping outside the jazz field to record in other genres as well. He is one of those responsible for traditional jazz's resurgence following the Second World War and has been influential in keeping the music alive throughout the rock and roll era.