[Dixielandjazz] Re: Preservation Hall

[Stephen Barbone]

> Trumpetom at aol.com wrote: (polite snip)

> I saw them: a delightful old left handed banjo player named
> Narvin.

That was Narvin Kimball. A wonderful player, a wonderful gentleman. I saw that group
also on tour, probably the same year. They were as you say, unrehearsed and the mixture
of styles was bad. Probably pretty close to the time Alan Jaffe died and Ben took over
the bass chair. He had to pay some dues and is much better now.

The current touring bands I played alongside last year and this year are much better.

I met Narvin back then and had a lengthy conversation with him back stage prior to
their performance. He was in his late 80s, still stood on a chair during the
performance to take a solo on one number. We all thought he was going to fall, but that
was part of his act.

Narvin suffered a stroke about 3 or 4 years ago and has not toured with the band since.
John Brunious and Frank Demond told me last month in Wilmington DE that Narvin was
pretty much OK, but not up to the rigors of the road. They said he still plays a little
every once in a while.

My assessment of what I heard live in the last two years. The touring band is OK. Not
as good as some OKOM Festival Bands, but better than most Festival Bands I have heard
which I will admit is limited.

They are rougher in that the arrangements, if any, are not tight, but then, that is
part of the New Orleans style. Downtown NO, what they play, is rough edged. Some folks
like it, some prefer blander arrangements that are tight but even less energetic.

When I say IMO we outplayed them, well, IMO we out play most bands in the genre. Head
to head challenge anyone? Cutting contest like the old days? Hey, we're up for it.
(Except for those NY Bands with Davern, et al.)

Cheers,
Steve

Cheers,
Steve Barbone