[Dixielandjazz] Two Cornets/Trumpets

[Kurt]

In an earlier post from January 22, Michael McQuaid Said:

>>>>>>>>>"Two cornets is an unusual front line for a classic jazz band, or
any other
band for that matter. Since the trumpet player is usually the musical
director, such a line-up could be asking for trouble, but Jim and Bob are
very much at home with each other, and their interplay on stage is almost as
entertaining as their music."<<<<<<<<<<

I do not agree with Michael's remark  that "two cornets is an UNUSUAL
front-line for a classic jazz band". As you will recall "two cornets" was a
basic and fundamental sound in the early 20's (l923 & l924) when King Oliver
and protégé Louis Armstrong were setting the standards for New Orleans
Traditional Jazz on the King Oliver Creole Jazz Band.
The two-cornet sound is perpetuated and reprised by many bands of today who
want to authentically remember those early pioneers sounds. Occasionally,
The Bill Allred Classic Jazz Band features the two cornets of Charlie
Bertini and Bob Pickwood to pay homage to those early Oliver/Armstrong
fundamentals.
Rather than saying that "two cornets is an unusual front line", it seems to
me that his review should praise Cullum and Barnard for keeping those basic
fundamentals alive and well...and say so.
Also, that same "twin cornet" sound was a basic part of the Great Jazz
Revival sounds of the early 40's.....but substituting trumpets as Lu Watters
and Bob Scobey did on the Yerba Buena Jazz Band on the West coast.

Kurt