[Dixielandjazz] Jeff Mumford (was New Armstrong biography/ Two beat)

[Robert Smith]

Many thanks, Bill and Louis, for enabling me to enjoy the Christmas and New 
Year celebrations without being tortured by recurring doubts regarding the 
guitar player in the Buddy Bolden Band.

As soon as these celebrations are over I shall address the question as to 
whether Jefferson "Brock" Mumford and Jimmy Johnson were really left-handed 
or whether the photographer got them to pose such for artistic effects. On 
the other hand it may well have been that both the cornet and clarinets were 
specially built for Buddy Bolden, Frank Lewis, and William Warner who may 
all have been left-handed.

An even more troubling question is whether "Brock" was allowed to play 
guitar when the hitherto undiscovered recording was made, or whether he was 
compelled to switch to a left-handed banjo (a left-handed tenor banjo would 
have the octave G-string on the other side of the fretboard). Even worse, 
would they have had to build a left-handed tuba for Jimmy Johnson?

You know, being a jazz addict isn't all sweetness and light.

Kind Regards

Bob Smith