[Dixielandjazz] One for Brother Gunter

[Jerry Gordon]

I never did get to see the YouTube clip, but reading Pat's description, I
think I know what it's like. If anyone's interested, email me and I'll
send you a couple of pix I took at the Washboard Festival in Logan back
in '05. I don't know who the guy is, but I'm pretty sure that's what he's
playing.

Jerry "hit it again" Gordon, Troy, NY - Webmaster for
http://APlaceForJazz.org


On Tue, 7 Nov 2006 12:50:26 -0000 "pat ladd" <pj.ladd at btinternet.com>
writes:
...
> The vertical washboard on the youtube clips seemed to me to be 
> merely an 
> extension of the `lagerphone`.  This was introduced to me more than 
> 40 years 
> ago by a mate from Auckland NZ.
> It consisted of a pole ,about like a Boy Scouts Staff (or stave). 
> with 6 or 
> 8 nails driven into it. Each nail piercd about 6 beer bottle tops so 
> that it 
> rattled when thumped on the ground. There was also a notched stick 
> which was 
> used like a bow to rattle the bottle tops some more.
> There was usually a rubber walking stick ferrule on the bottom end 
> to 
> protect the floor and to produce a solid thump.
> 
> The whole thing was often decorated wiith ribbons and maybe a small 
> cymbal. 
> Itmade a damn good rythm section for impromptu pub gigs. Rolf Harris 
> 
> introduced it on British TV about 20 years later.
> 
> To add a washboard and lose the notched stick seems a simple 
> evolutionary 
> step.
> 
> Cheers
> 
> Pat