[Dixielandjazz] Bagpipes

[TBW504 at aol.com]

After the disastrous failure in the 1740s of the Jacobite rebellion the  
English ruled it became illegal for Scots to wear the tartan or carry weapons of  
any sort. James Reid came before the courts in 1746 charged with being in  
possession of a deadly weapon, a set of bagpipes. Not unnaturally he pleaded his  
innocence only for the judge to rule that the skirl of pipes had inspired the 
 rebels and was therefore an instrument of war. The unfortunate Reid was  
subsequently hanged. Seems a tad harsh. For slightly obscure relevance to jazz  
see also the entry and footnote for James Rivers. He was born 1937, Apr 18 in  
New Orleans. Played reeds, bagpipes, and did vocals. Mentioned by Tom Stagg in 
 Footnote volume 2-3 as one of the "young men of New Orleans" who are 
continuing  the traditions of jazz playing, but with no other details. I have heard 
that not  only did he play all the saxes, plus flute and harmonica, but also 
bagpipes.  Recently discovered he played tenor sax with Bill Sinigal's 
Skyliners. In 1974  he played in Sylvia's, a small club on Freret Street. In 1996 he 
recorded with  Clint Eastwood, and Illinois Jacquet at Carnegie Hall. He earlier 
played the  title track for Eastwood's 1984 movie Tightrope made in New 
Orleans. Bagpipe  playing? Do not mock. A few years ago I was in Canterbury when a 
parade band  including Tuba Fats, Cuff Billett and Sammy Rimington met two 
Scots pipers  coming in he opposite direction. I said, "Give us a tune" and the 
pipers struck  up "Amazing Grace". Fats picked it up and gradually the others 
came in to make a  most moving performance. I have it on tape. Interestingly, 
the now familiar and  traditional melody of the hymn was not composed by 
Newton, and the words were  sung to a number of tunes before the now inseparable 
melody was chanced upon.  They first appear united in a shape note hymnal from 
1831 called Virginia  Harmony, where the tune is called "New Britain." Any 
original words sung to the  tune are now lost. The melody is believed to be 
Scottish or Irish in origin; it  is pentatonic and in the Dorian mode, and suggests a 
bagpipe tune; the hymn is  frequently performed on bagpipes and has become 
associated with that  instrument.
Amazing what you can find in "The Song for Me"
 
Brian Wood