Album Notes

"I wanted to let you know I've been playing your clarinet Cd ever since I got it and I think it is just stunning, it's a beautiful, beautiful piece of work. Especially when I got to track 7, Rosetta, I flipped out, it's like a young Benny Goodman with your own flavoring.
I'm just so impressed and I thank you for sending it to me."
William Claxton
Noted Jazz Photographer


Dan St. Marseille is perhaps best known as a tenor saxophonist from his excellent previous recordings. The clarinet – an instrument commonly accepted as difficult - is often considered by saxophonists to be a necessary “survival” double. In Dan’s experience, the clarinet has been a primary instrument from his youth.
With this recording, Dan joins a select, small group of those who can - and should - make a jazz clarinet CD. With a fine rhythm section, Dan gives us here a thoughtful and beautifully played program of challenging originals and standards.

Gary Foster July 2006
Jazz Saxophonist and Woodwind Artist


Dan St.Marseille's clarinet playing on his new disc Swinging With The Saint reveals a first rate mastery of the instrument: a warm, full sound, fluent technique and an informed, melodic and swinging linear conception born out of a thorough historical knowledge and love for the music.
The whole cd reflects Dan's approach-inventive, creative and joyful playing on everyone’s part with a diverse selection of material that makes for a very fulfilling listening experience.

Tom Ranier
Pianist and Clarinetist


Best-known as a fine tenor-saxophonist, Dan St. Marseille on Swinging With The Saint proves that he is a very talented clarinetist too. His set of music ranges from the New Orleans jazz of "Just A Closer Walk With Thee" to swing, bop, the Lennie Tristano-influenced "Because It's There" and bossa nova.
The rhythm section, with pianist Chris Dawson, is quite versatile and supportive. Swinging With The Saint is an enjoyable set that introduces Dan St. Marseille as one of the better clarinetists of today.

Scott Yanow, author of nine books including Swing, Jazz On Film and History Of Recorded Jazz 1917-76.