[Dixielandjazz] Entertainers vs. Artists

[Marek Boym]

Hello Larry,
By the 40's it was, but it came back.
I, too, as a rule prefer the guitar, but banjos still can swing.
Unfortunately, they are often over-loud, to the point of overshadowing
the rest of the band.  I have a jack McLaughlin record  which
sometimes sound like a banjo (not very swinging) with a clarinet
accompaniment.  Also, the British trad bands (not the best ones) often
sound like a banjo wigh instrumental accompaniment!
Cheers

On 03/08/07, Larry Walton Entertainment - St. Louis
<larrys.bands at charter.net> wrote:
> We may be having a problem with the definition of swing which I really don't
> want to get into but some people say anyone who plays exceptionally well
> "Swings".  That's a whole book to its self.
>
> Well maybe they do or don't but IMO by the 40's banjo was pretty much dead.
> I suppose that there are always exceptions but I still maintain that swing
> pretty much doomed the banjo as did amplification.
>
> There are guys that can swing on anything.  I did a jug band at my school
> with jugs, washboard, guitar, banjo, harmonica and washtub bass.  The kid
> playing bass was exceptionally talented and did some amazing things on that
> thing.
>
> The two instruments are just different and I think the overall sound of the
> guitar is much smoother and better to do modern comping on than the banjo.
>
> The sweet bands didn't really use them either.
>
> That film as Steve pointed out was made in 47.  I thought it might have been
> earlier but was wrong.
> Larry
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Marek Boym" <marekboym at gmail.com>
> To: "Larry Walton Entertainment - St. Louis" <larrys.bands at charter.net>
> Sent: Friday, August 03, 2007 2:02 PM
> Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Entertainers vs. Artists
>
>
> > Well, look at the picture of Buddy Bolden's band - long before the
> > film "New Orleans" - it had a guitar, not a banjo.
> > And yes, banjos do lend themselves to swing!  Just listen to Wilbur de
> > Paris' New New Orleans jazz Band - it swings like mad.  As did Jelly
> > Roll Morton's bands. As do many current traditional bands.  A great
> > example- the Bob Oliver's band (British), which has two banjos, a
> > brass bass (which, according to Larry, went out with the advent of
> > swing) and a washboard.  Or Paris Washboard.
> > SUPPORT LIVE JAZZ!
> > Cheers
> >
> > On 02/08/07, Larry Walton Entertainment - St. Louis
> > <larrys.bands at charter.net> wrote:
> >> While I don't consider myself any sort of authority on Louis Armstrong it
> >> seems to me that virtually the whole invention of swing came about
> >> because
> >> of him.
> >>
> >> The banjo just doesn't lend itself to swing.  When swing came in the
> >> banjo
> >> and tuba went out.  These are great instruments for street bands and pre
> >> amplified bands but as amplification came in and swing caught hold these
> >> instruments faded.  I think it was a combination of both factors and
> >> probably some other things too.
> >>
> >> There is a movie that L.A. made called "New Orleans"  I'm not sure of the
> >> year but it looks like middle to late 30's and the banjo had been
> >> replaced
> >> by a guitar.
> >>
> >> I said that because if swing hadn't been invented things would have
> >> progressed differently and our whole music history would have changed.
> >> Larry
> >> St. Louis
> >> ----- Original Message -----
> >> From: "John Mumford" <john at jazzbanjo.com>
> >> To: "Larry Walton" <larrys.bands at charter.net>
> >> Cc: "Dixieland Jazz Mailing List" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
> >> Sent: Thursday, August 02, 2007 8:42 AM
> >> Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Entertainers vs. Artists
> >>
> >>
> >> >
> >> > Larry,
> >> >
> >> > Why do you say that banjos would still be in dance bands?
> >> >
> >> > John Mumford
> >> >
> >> > -----Original Message-----
> >> > From: Larry Walton Entertainment - St. Louis
> >> >
> >> > Banjos would still be in dance bands!
> >> > Larry
> >> >
> >> > ----- Original Message -----
> >> > From: "AL LEVY" <jazz_man at ix.netcom.com>
> >> > To: "Larry Walton" <larrys.bands at charter.net>
> >> >
> >> >> Speculation makes me to wonder what would have
> >> >> been if Satchmo never tried to please his public.
> >> >> Cheers,
> >> >> Al
> >> >> Pianist, Composer, Arranger, Conductor, Teacher and Music Prep.
> >> >
> >> >
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> >>
> >>
> >>
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