When you think of “Jungleland,” you think of Clarence Clemons and his iconic saxophone solo, which lasts for just over two glorious minutes. Hard to imagine anyone else playing that solo. However, following Clarence’s death in 2011, the award went to his nephew Jake, who joined the E Street Band and performed “Jungleland” live in Sweden, on July 28, 2012. It was an emotional performance for all.
Speaking below, Jake Clemons remembers it as “a very emotional moment. It was like the most extreme emotion I’ve ever been through…” He continued: “Until that show, all the shows before, I felt like I was filling in for Clarence… That moment for me was like, he’s not coming back. He’s physically not going to walk on that stage anymore.”
Later he said Rolling Stone, “That moment was so important that we couldn’t do a soundcheck. That moment was the first time the band heard me play the song.” But, from there, it “becomes a big part of the healing process.” You can catch the poignant performance above, with the saxophone solo kicking off at around 5:10.
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