RIP Big Man

It is a sad day. The E Street Band will never be the same. Jungleland sax solo must be one of the greatest ever.
It will be weird to see Bruce without Clarence by his side on stage.
 
originally posted by VS:
Is the E Street Band even conceivable without him?
Click to expand...

I can't see how. It was one thing to replace Phantom Dan as he was always quietly tucked away in his corner of the stage.

But the Big Man? He was Bruce's foil. I can't see some anonymous guy playing those solos and I certainly can't imagine "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" ever being played again.

I was at my wine tasting group a week ago Thursday. Usually, the host has some quiet music on. When I arrived, he was blasting "Rosalita" with those great Clarence parts. It's his favorite rock & roll song and said it was never a song to play at low volume.
 
originally posted by Larry Stein:
originally posted by VS:
Is the E Street Band even conceivable without him?
Click to expand...

I can't see how. It was one thing to replace Phantom Dan as he was always quietly tucked away in his corner of the stage.

But the Big Man? He was Bruce's foil. I can't see some anonymous guy playing those solos and I certainly can't imagine "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" ever being played again.
Click to expand...

A good friend traveled to see the last show of the last ESB tour (in Buffalo) specifically for this reason.
 
originally posted by Dan McQ:
originally posted by Larry Stein:
originally posted by VS:
Is the E Street Band even conceivable without him?
Click to expand...

I can't see how. It was one thing to replace Phantom Dan as he was always quietly tucked away in his corner of the stage.

But the Big Man? He was Bruce's foil. I can't see some anonymous guy playing those solos and I certainly can't imagine "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" ever being played again.
Click to expand...

A good friend traveled to see the last show of the last ESB tour (in Buffalo) specifically for this reason.
Click to expand...

How fitting it was to end the main set with 10th Av in Buffalo! A great show (except if you forget Bruce bad vocals on Restless Nights!) and one that I'll always listen to with Clarence on my mind.
But Larry is right, who can you fill the Big Man's shoes? How could we imagine someone else on the saxophone...?
It sucks but it was bound to happen considering his health the past years.
 
With all due respect, Clarence's sax fits a genre that many road house blues rockin saxists could play....and they still do. To his credit, he extended the genre (or maybe Bruce did, by bringing him into the white rock world).

Was Clarence better that those roadhouse players? Not sure, He was good at what he did for sure. To me, he sure sounded roadhouse...and if you like the style he was good at it. Good guy too apparently....just no Dolphy (Not that at I asked him to be.)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top