[Dixielandjazz] washboard position

[Don Ingle]

Bill, et al:
The premier washboard player was Spike Jones. His washboards were replete
with cymbals, bulb auto horns, triangles and a few other assorted hardware
story appendages. If you listen to the early Jones sides where his was
mainly a Dixieland band sans harp and assorted added sidemen, you can hear
the washboard as a rhythm instrument at its finest.
As a youth watching the band from the wings, I marveled at the rhythm
section of washboard, banjo, piano, full set of drums, and a clar. tenor,
trumpet and trombone front line take on such classics as Jungle Town, Goodby
Tootsie Goodbye, Row Row Row, and other vaudeville tunes and make them
romp along infectiously. Jazz drummer pro arte Wayne Jones said he collected
the Spike Jones stuff not for the hokum but the for the band's ability to
play jazz. He was right. Mr.. Jones was the spark plug that drove the band.
Other groups that used the washboards well -- the Hoosier Hotshots, the Korn
Kobblers, Early Freddie Fisher, and some of the early jazz band similar to
the Mound City Blues Blowers.
My friend and premier punster Mike Schwimmer does justice to the Washerman's
Friend.
Now I plan to be on hand at Logan next June -- definitely set the date - to
see the washboard in the hands of Father Bill and friends in the homeplace
of this unheralded instrument d'jazz. I say unheralded because mention of it
was sadly missing from the Ken Burns series -- casting doubts as to the
thoroughness of research that went into it. Flawed -- seriously flawed.
With respect to the tummy thumpers among us,
Don Ingle
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Gunter" <jazzboard at hotmail.com>
To: <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 07, 2004 1:12 PM
Subject: RE: [Dixielandjazz] washboard position


> Listmates,
>
> Regarding Kash's aversion of washboards, I can completely understand his
> reaction if his only exposure to the washboard is a couple of clowns. I
have
> similar responses when people approach the bandstand and ask to play
spoons
> or bones.  It's easy to form stereotypes from such exposures.
>
> But let me point to such musicians as Bob Raggio (RIP - he died just last
> week) long time washboardist with Kash's old band (South Frisco), Ralf
> Reynolds - leader of the Reynolds Brothers Rhythm Rascals and washboardist
> extraordinaire, Stephen Joseph (passed away a few years back) who played
> with a number of bands including France's "Hot Antic Jazz Band" and who
was
> probably the most tasteful washboard player I've ever heard.
>
> I know, I know . . . "Tasteful Washboard Player" does sound an awful lot
> like an oxymoron but, there it is. Stephen was a marvel and we miss him.
>
> All of these musicians play simple hardware store type washboard rigs. But
> then there are other players such as the centerpiece of the Paris
Washboard
> band where the "percussionist" plays an elaborate setup of cymbals and
other
> percussive devices around a central piece of corrugated metal (the
> 'washboard' part) and he is a wonder to behold.  Personally, his setup is
> too complicated for me but the band is extremely popular and they play a
lot
> of festivals. I enjoy the band but I'd hate to haul all that stuff around
.
> . . it's as complicated as a full drum kit!
>
> Finally, let me state that the problem of unwanted sit-ins is not
restricted
> to washboards. You can find the arrogant and obnoxious bore on any
> instrument (trumpets, T-bones, reeds, banjos, accordians, harmonicas, etc.
>
> I call upon Jim to re-assess his evaluation . . . ("I've got two
"washboard"
> stories which have turned me off the instrument . . .  entirely.").
>
> Surely you can't be serious when considering an instrument with the
musical
> and emotional depth of the washboard!!
>
> Respectfully submitted,
>
> Bill "Thimbles" Gunter
> jazzboard at hotmail.com
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Expand your wine savvy - and get some great new recipes - at MSN Wine.
> http://wine.msn.com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Dixielandjazz mailing list
> Dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
> http://ml.islandnet.com/mailman/listinfo/dixielandjazz
>