About

Bill Lamden is a highly accomplished reed instrumentalist, or “reed doubler”, playing all of the traditional orchestral reed instruments, all of the commonly used jazz reed instruments, and some less traditional ethnic and special effects reed and wind instruments.  He is sought after for his distinct and sometimes unique ability to play each instrument such that it has the expected and appropriate sound and pitch, whether within the defined and highly refined setting of the symphony orchestra, the more free flowing setting of a jazz ensemble, or the highly stylized requirements of a pit orchestra or a recording studio.

Versatility…

Bill is able to freely improvise on all of his instruments and is equally comfortable either reading music or playing by ear. He has the particular ability to improvise and spontaneously create musical lines and phrases that are appropriate to each situation as if they had been written and scored. He understands the many styles of music and can reproduce them appropriately.

Bill regards his considerable collection of instruments (the traditional families of clarinets, flutes, oboes, bassoons and saxophones as individual paints on a palette and in improvisational situations. He enjoys selecting the appropriate “color” (or instrument) for the music, the mood, and the “feel” that is being presented.

Philosophy…

Bill’s musical mentor and the source of ideas for Bill’s underlying philosophy and technique in producing sound is Phil Sobel, now deceased. In the early 1980’s he was a well-known studio musician in Los Angeles, the leader of the West Coast Saxophone Quartet, and Bill’s instructor and coach, mainly for saxophone but including flute.  Phil’s understanding of the “true” sound of the saxophone led Bill on a lifelong pursuit of the “true” sound of each instrument that he plays.

Bill performs primarily in the greater San Diego area, but travels often to the Big Island (Hawaii) where he plays with the Kamuela Philharmonic Orchestra, the West Hawaii County Band, The Olliephonics Jazz Band and other local musical groups including Fred Callejo and Pacific Fusion.

Bill is a life member of the American Federation of Musicians, having belonged to both Local 325 and Local 47.