[Dixielandjazz] FW: sounds of the twenties

[Hal Vickery]

Bill,

I keep thinking I read something about Walter Johnson, who played drums for
several years with Fletcher Henderson, having something to do with the
invention of the high hat, but I have no idea whether I really did read that
or if I'm confusing this with something else.  Or maybe I'm thinking of
Walter Johnson who pitched from the 1900s to the 1920s with the American
League Washington Senators....

The drums discussion has been interesting for me because my dad used to
supplement his income by playing drums on Saturday nights.  ("I'm not a
musician.  I'm a drummer.")  He didn't have the bass with a landscape, but
it was a whole lot bigger than the ones they use now.  But he did have a
high hat.

Hal

-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Haesler [mailto:bhaesler at bigpond.net.au] 
Sent: Friday, September 23, 2005 8:32 PM
To: Hal Vickery; dixieland jazz mail list
Subject: Re: sounds of the twenties

Dear Hal,
What's a high hat?
Just kidding.
There isn't one in any of the photographs I have of my idol, Ray Bauduc.
Nor can I recall any on the recordings he is on, and I have most of them,
except the mid 20s Candullo records.
You are probably right. He never used one.
Neither have I.
Unnecessary things! (OK! Jo Jones is an exception.)
However, the high hat (popular from the 1930s on) goes back further to about
1926-27 with low-sock and low-boy cymbals appearing in drum catalogues at
the time. These were similar to the dreaded high hat, but only about 12
inches (300 mm) or so high and played with the foot only.
It was eventually heightened so that sticks could also be used with it.
Something in the back of my memory tells me that Chick Webb has been
credited with inventing the low-sock.
Kind regards,
Bill.