[Dixielandjazz] Washboards as Melody Instruments

[Steve barbone]

"Mike C." <mike at michaelcryer.com>
 
> I'd like to know if anybody has every heard a washboard as a melody
> instrument or if there are any washboard melodies. To me it would seem
> totally logical.

"Sure Mike, "Rub a Dub Dub, Three Men In A Tub." ;-) VBG.

> In some countries, rhythm instruments are melody
> instruments, but that concept doesn't seem to have caught on very well
> here in the states.

I don't know of any washboarders who play melody, but  many drummers play
melody, including list mate John Petters in the UK.

Others, perhaps better known include Max Roach who always has his kit in
tune and plays melody drums. So too does Joe Morello who mixes large amounts
of humor into his melodic line on drums.

Those are just a couple. There are many more. Perhaps more so on the modern
or straight ahead jazz scene then amongst OKOM drummers in many of today's
bands. Like the washboarders, many just play unaccented, non melodic, time.
That's OK if you like that sort of thing, but give me Wettling (who also
played melody drums) Petters, or Dodds etc., who know/knew how to drive the
band as well as play melodic fills and solos.

And other rhythm instruments do play melody. E.G. Barbone Street's guitarist
often plays like a fourth horn inserting single string melodic counterpoint
along with the front line during the ensemble.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone