[Dixielandjazz] Guitar vs. Banjo

[Bill Haesler]

> As to hearing Condon's guitar, I have him on Mosaic CDs where you can easily
hear his guitar. Plus, be assured that when one saw Condon live, at his
joint on 3rd Street in the Village, one could always hear his guitar. Even
when Davison and Brunies were competing to see who could blow
louder...........<

Dear Steve and Father Mike,
You have both saved me a longer reply.
I grew up in jazz as a 'mouldie fygge' but was always able to accept the
Condon mob on record.
Some of my peers that didn't claimed he was a useless guitarist, as you
couldn't hear him.
Rubbish! Those of us with 'ears' could and loved the way he drove a band.
Steve, you mention the Mosaics, which includes the great late-30s, 40s and
50s Commodore and Columbia sides. But Condon can be heard on his earlier
records too.
I have spoken to visiting musicians to Oz who worked and recorded with Eddie
including Wild Bill, Ed Hall, Dick Cary and Kenny Davern, and they all said
that his musical contribution to his bands was as important as his
'directorship'.
We heard this for ourselves in March 1964 when the Condon gang finally came
down-under, even though Eddie was unwell and 'off the grog'.
When we heard the Count Basie Orch in Sydney Town Hall (with its notorious
acoustics) Freddy Green could be heard all over, even though other sidemen
were drowned out or muffled. Magnificent!
Kind regards,
Bill.