[Dixielandjazz] One for Brother Gunter

[Bill Gunter]

Hello Bill over there in Oz -

I recall playing your washboard there at the Fortunes of War Pub at the 
Rocks in Sydney harbor a couple of years back.  Great fun! I enjoyed 
watching you play and then when you let me have a sit-in my joy was 
complete.

One thing I especially recall was that up until that point I wouldn't have 
believed that a washboard so incredibly beat up and warped and ugly looking 
would still be playable. But, master that you are, you made it sound lovely, 
mate!

You said:

>If the washboard is to be played as it was originally meant to be - 
>strictly
>as a rhythm instrument - then the horizontal position gives much better
>control, particularly on a regular job, or for recording.

I could probably give you a run for your money in a debate over this point 
-- "Resolved: the correct method of playing a washboard is with the 
instrument in a vertical position."

But it's really a matter of what you're used to. Piano keyboards are back 
and forth, accordian keyboards are up and down . . . big deal!

Warmest regards,

Bill "If you see me old mate, Eric, give him a big hug for me" Gunter
jazzboard at hotmail.com


>From: Bill Haesler <bhaesler at bigpond.net.au>
>To: Bill Gunter 
><jazzboard at hotmail.com>,<ronald_wheeler at bellsouth.net>,dixieland jazz mail 
>list <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
>Subject: Re: One for Brother Gunter
>Date: Tue, 07 Nov 2006 11:22:30 +1100
>
>Dear Bill and Ron,
>Since the late 1930s Australian jazzmen have always played the washboard
>sitting across the knees and, as there were no available photographs of
>washboard bands playing rather than posing, this seemed to be the most
>logical position at the time. A simple extension of the drum kit.
>Australian cornet player, Roger Bell (Graeme's brother) was also a fine
>washboard player and he and record collector, jazz writer, record producer
>William H  'Bill' Miller were among the first to play it this way. By
>example, it was passed on to all who followed, including the great Lem
>Barnard.
>Roger was regularly featured on washboard with the Graeme Bell band
>'backroom' contingent on its two triumphant tours of Europe and the UK in
>1947-48 and 1950-52, and this too would have influenced others 'over 
>there'.
>Yes, I am indeed claiming the 'horizontal' set-up as an OZ original!
>Australians only discovered the 'American' vertical method much later and
>some now use this position for stage performances. But it is an exemption
>here, rather that the rule.
>If the washboard is to be played as it was originally meant to be - 
>strictly
>as a rhythm instrument - then the horizontal position gives much better
>control, particularly on a regular job, or for recording.
>If is it for novelty effect only (as many American players seem to prefer),
>then the vertical method allows for some showing off, and a few dance steps
>and other excesses to be included in the performance.
>Beryl Bryden, a dear old mate, was primarily a singer, so hung the 
>washboard
>around her neck for occasional use. A European fan eventually made her a
>pocket-sized, folding model which she used on stage in her latter years.
>Kind regards,
>Bill.
>
>
>