Larry Combs

Larry Combs (born December 31, 1939) is an American clarinetist and educator.

He was appointed principal clarinet of the CSO by Sir Georg Solti in 1978.

He retired from the CSO following the 2007–2008 season to spend more time teaching clarinet students at DePaul University.

He has performed the Brahms Clarinet Trio with Daniel Barenboim and cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and has appeared at the Ravinia Festival with its music director, Christoph Eschenbach.

His Combs-Novak Sextet is one of the headliners at the 1999 Chicago Jazz Festival; he cut an album with jazz clarinetist Eddie Daniels, called "Crossing the Line"; and the Chicago Reader's Ted Shen wrote that he is "a Benny Goodman-like chameleon who can execute breathtaking arabesques and add a touch of eloquence to the plainest phrase."