"When Alex Hutchinson talks about favourite and inspirational clarinet players, it's always on a first-name basis - Benny, Artie, Woody Tony and Eddie. Fortunately, I know of whom he speaks, having also been a long-time fan of Messrs. Goodman, Shaw, Herman, De Franco, Scott and Daniels.

"I also know that there is a certain smug, masochistic streak common to the great clarinet players (and Alex Hutchinson certainly is one), knowing that they can control that most difficult of all instruments on which to play jazz. Known among reedmen as the "agony pipe", the clarinet, according to American jazz master Kenny Davern, was designed by two different people who didn't know each other!

"Despite this, Alex has always listed clarinet as his major instrument and, doubling on saxophone, has for over thirty years, been regarded as one of Australia's premier professional musicians. Being chosen to play with visiting performers, or blowing on sessions ranging from Dixie to Bebop and beyond, Alex does it all; but I know his very favourite thing is to front a small combo of the very best players, working over some of the all-time great tunes on his beloved 1961 SELMER clarinet. And that's what we have right here on THE GOODMAN TOUCH, amazingly, Alex's very first record as a leader. I know it sounds trite, but they just do not write songs like these any more. It’s thanks to jazz that we can still hear wonderful tunes like "More Than You Know", "My Romance", "Easy Living", "Indian Summer" etc. "Gundagai" may not be regarded as one of the great standards, but it is fiercely Australian, just like the quartet's leader.

"So here it is: With love from Hutch – THE GOODMAN TOUCH – plus a bow in the direction of Benny, Buddy, Tony. Eddie and Co. Thanks. Alex, but what kept you so long?"

Ralphe Rickman