When I saw the topic I knew what the question must be. The only thing it could be was "What is that instrument?" I 'm glad I read this because I had convinced myself that this was actually a sub-tone clarinet. I have several recordings by the Paul Whiteman Band with Chet Hazlett playing this instrument. These instruments sound incredibly alike with almost the exact same tone. The main difference I can hear is that the sub-tone clarinet seems to be often used with a sliding technique almost like a slide whistle. I played one of the overtures for my sister, a flautist, years ago and she suggested it was bass flute. However, when I heard what I thought was the same instrument on some Whiteman songs from various Bing Crosby cd's I own, I was convinced this was the same instrument and the liner notes credit Hazlett on the sub-tone. So when I read this I was planning on telling you guys you were wrong and I just wanted to do a side by side comparison before I did. I first found a youtube vid of someone playing the bass flute. Then I listened to the two overtures and the Whiteman songs and now I'm guessing its bass flute, but boy they sound similar. What decided it for me was the lack of sliding in the overtures. Check out youtube vids of. I'm a Dreamer Aren't We All, Little Pal, and Waiting at the End of the Road if you're curious about the sub-tone clarinet.
