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What's the most underused instrument in jazz?

Personally, I like my jazz with some Hammond B-3 or Fender Rhodes...even the Moog... and I'm not familiar with many contemporary jazz projects using either. If any of you are, please share. :yes:

And yes, I realize the Rhodes and Moog were largely employed in the jazz/rock fusion movement of the 70's...which many purists like to scoff at...but it's still jazz to me.
 
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tomlinmgt said:
Personally, I like my jazz with some Hammond B-3 or Fender Rhodes...even the Moog... and I'm not familiar with many contemporary jazz projects using either. If any of you are, please share. :yes:

And yes, I realize the Rhodes and Moog were largely employed in the jazz/rock fusion movement of the 70's...which many purists like to scoff at...but it's still jazz to me.
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Joey De Francesco may well be the reining king of the B3. Very active with a ton of releases. Highly recommended.

cubdog
 
bobsvinyl said:
Harmonica-Toots Thielemans. He almost carried the banner by himself.
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cubdog said:
That's a good one that I hadn't even thought about. I will confess though that I'm not a lover of jazz harmonica while I love good blues harp.

cubdog
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bobsvinyl said:
I feel the same way you do, but if you think about it, if you get someone who can really improvise on the harp, it could end up being pretty interesting.
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Would Lee Oscar fit in there somewhere?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3f56qh5PmUA

.
 
keithpgdrb said:
I think he is asking what instrument, that is typical in a jazz setting, should be used more, or isn't used as often. I don't think he's asking what instrument "should" be used out of all available..........
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cubdog said:
That's it, very simple. I thought it was pretty clear.

cubdog
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Sorry, just trying to be helpful. In my defense, there have been several answers that would tend to indicate it could have been clearer.

I've already chosen the clarinet as an instrument which isn't used as often. I'll add that the trumpet should be used more.

In fact, the trumpet should usually be the first additional instrument to be added after the standard piano/drums/bass rhythm section. I'll go so far as to say that the second and third additional instruments should also be trumpets. There should be at least three trumpets before any woodwinds, low brass, or additional rhythm section instruments should be added.

All of the above should be present with the addition of strings before the addition of a singer even considered.
 
stereofanboy said:
Sorry, just trying to be helpful. In my defense, there have been several answers that would tend to indicate it could have been clearer.

I've already chosen the clarinet as an instrument which isn't used as often. I'll add that the trumpet should be used more.

In fact, the trumpet should usually be the first additional instrument to be added after the standard piano/drums/bass rhythm section. I'll go so far as to say that the second and third additional instruments should also be trumpets. There should be at least three trumpets before any woodwinds, low brass, or additional rhythm section instruments should be added.

All of the above should be present with the addition of strings before the addition of a singer even considered.
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I'm just opposite of you. I'm not a fan of the trumpet. At all. But I love saxophones. I do like trombones however and would rather hear them than a trumpet.

cubdog
 
cubdog said:
I'm just opposite of you. I'm not a fan of the trumpet. At all. But I love saxophones. I do like trombones however and would rather hear them than a trumpet.

cubdog
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+1

Too many years of HS band trumpets blaring behind me (I played tenor sax) and pretty sure I lost some hearing due to one guy in particular.

It nearly came to blows one day. I turned around and told him if he blatted in what was left of my ears one more time, I was going to shove that trumpet up his nethers, bell first.

I nominate the triangle for least used instrument.
 
onwardjames said:
+1

Too many years of HS band trumpets blaring behind me (I played tenor sax) and pretty sure I lost some hearing due to one guy in particular.

It nearly came to blows one day. I turned around and told him if he blatted in what was left of my ears one more time, I was going to shove that trumpet up his nethers, bell first.

I nominate the triangle for least used instrument.
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I would have loved to see that scenario played out. :D

As for the triangle, yes it's underused but does it deserve to be used anymore than it is?

cubdog
 
As for the dulcimer, jews harp, and mellotron is there even a need for them to be used in a jazz setting? I'm not sure I've ever heard any of them used in that context if I have I didn't realize it.

cubdog
 
Definitely the bagpipes. There is an LP with free jazz played on bagpipes, and I don't think they sold very many....
 
The flute!

A wonderful instrument which is probably humankind's oldest instrument (use of them goes back tens of thousands of years) and can be quite felicitous when employed in a jazz setting imo.

Also, the vibraphone, but there is a tolerable amount of use of it in the jazz genre, although it'd be nice if there was more.
 
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