[Dixielandjazz] Update on the elusive "Bass Cano" question

[David Richoux]

Hi all,

If you remember back a few years, I and others on this list have been  
searching for any info about the so called "Bass Cano" that was also  
listed in some Blues discographies  as "Imitation Bass." The two  
major theories about what it might be were a single string instrument  
(but not a "Gut-Bucket,") or a vocal imitation of a bass, like the  
Mills Brothers did. I have put this question to several other lists  
and recently made contact with noted Blues historian David Evans of  
the University of Memphis (Tenn.) <http://music.memphis.edu/evans.htm>

His reply is that it probably was a discography typo or translation  
error going back to the 1960s! He thinks it should have been simply  
"Bass Can" - a one string bass with a 10 gallon tin-can (or similar)  
resonator.  There are supposed to be some pictures of "Bass Can"  
instruments in Bengt Olsson's "Memphis Blues and Jug Bands"  - it is  
way out of print but there are some copies in local university  
libraries for me to explore further.

Unfortunately the words "Bass Can" are not a great Google search  
term... but I did just find this:
<http://www.sirenmusiccompany.com/images/SLRPhoto.jpg> that is a  
tuned one string bass with an automotive gas tank for a resonator!  
(no idea about the group- pretty intense!)

Is the Quest finally over?

Dave Richoux