[Dixielandjazz] Banjitar in early trad jazz

[Steve Barbone]

There were plenty of banjo variants in early jazz. Most of them used the
body of a banjo, often with a resonator, and the neck of the other
instrument, like a guitar, uke, or mandolin. Examples are the guitar banjo
('banjitar') the banjo mandolin and the banjo ukulele (banjolele). All were
very popular in the early part of the twentieth century, and were probably a
result of a desire either to allow players of other instruments (like
guitar) to take advantage of the banjo bandwagon at the time, or to get
increased natural amplification from the banjo resonator in the years before
electronic amplification became the norm.

NOTE: The six-string or guitar-banjo was the instrument of the early jazz
great Johnny St. Cyr, as well as of jazzmen Danny Barker, Papa Charlie
Jackson and Clancy Hayes.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone