[Dixielandjazz] West Coast Band was washboard!

[jazzfact]

Hi Steve and All,
I thought that all these bands had to have the two trumpet front line. The
festival band I play in "The East Coast Frisco Band" (somewhat an oxymoron)
has two trumpets, Ian Smith and Eric Holroyd along with John Murray
trombone, Michael Mcquaid clarinet, and a four piece rhythm section Bob Mair
drums, Bernice Haydock piano, Dave Robison banjo and me on Sousa. There is a
strong tradition for this style of band in Australia, even in the 50's the
Johnson Band in Melbourne used this line up. Frank even wrote a few songs in
the style including the rarely heard "Wocka The Fish". How do you do it with
one trumpet?

regards,
Richard Stevens
www.thejazzfactory.net

-----Original Message-----
From: dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com
[mailto:dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com] On Behalf Of Stephen Barbone
Sent: Thursday, 8 January 2004 7:14 AM
To: dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] In defense of Washboards

> "Kurt" <bowermastergroup at qwest.net> wrote (polite snip)
>
> By the way, does anyone know when the washboard was first used in OKOM?

Yes, they were first used by the towel boys at LuLu White's Bordello in 1909
to clean up the bed sheets etc. Jelly Roll Morton upon hearing and falling
in love with that rhythmic sound added them to his whorehouse piano playing
gigs and the rest is history. ;-)

In defense of Washboards, I have been playing in a rehearsal band locally,
The Red Lions, led by Tex Wyndham every Tuesday night that we can get
together. West Coast Revival Style with at least 800 obscure tunes, 500
semi-obscure tunes and 200 war horse tunes in the book. We lost our Tuba guy
when he moved to Texas, (Dave Stoddard)
so we now use a Bass Sax. We also lost our drummer who moved to Albuquerque
and never replaced him so we are Cornet, TBone, Clarinet, Banjo, Piano, Bass
Sax.

Two weeks ago, our ex drummer visited, sans drums, but used Tex's washboard
at the session. He played straight washboard rhythm throughout. (Roger
Hailstone) It was a real treat to have a steady washboard player, pushing
the beat and helped us all realize that in capable hands, a washboard sure
beats the hell out of a no drummer
band.

The Red Lions play about 5 gigs a year in West Coast Revival Style locally
and are working next on Feb 22 for the Tri State Jazz Society in New Jersey
and again on Fat Tuesday 2/24, with a sub for me, covering a Barbone Street
Mardi Gras gig at one of our five Mardi Gras Parties at local Iron Hill
Brewery Locations. They'll be in
Wilmington DE, at the Riverfront IHB. 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone





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