[Dixielandjazz] Marching trombone et al

[David Richoux]

Don,
Thanks for that Dudley Fosdick reference - I had forgotten him, but I  
did mention Dick Carey (I have an LP by him.) From the Redhotjazz files:
> It is interesting to note that the song Crazy Rhythm features the  
> unusual instrument the mellophone. Dudley Fosdick was the  
> mellophonist, and it was a sort of alto horn, pitched in Eb. The  
> Molers 1928 recording of Crazy Rhythm is always a "fooler" for  
> noticers who try to figure out if it's a valve trombone or  
> something - the mellophone sounds kind of like a low cornet with  
> bad head cold. Fosdick spent much of his post Red Nichols career  
> with Guy Lombardo, and until the end of Lombardo Band under Guy's  
> leadership, the second trumpet book required mellophone "double". -  
> Mark Heter

and check out:

http://www.answers.com/topic/dudley-fosdick  which really shows how  
unusual play a non trumpet/cornet/flugle or trombone brass melody  
instrument is and was!  (I know some of us can play melody tuba ;-)

Since I also play in several large wind band I am  familiar with  
mells, altos, baritones and euphoniums (euphoni?) and I know what  
they are capable of (in good hands!) It is strange to me that there  
have not been a large number of these horns in OKOM - the  
availability of good players and relatively inexpensive instruments  
should have made them a staple of this music. Circus, military and  
school bands use them all the time...



Dave Richoux

On Aug 17, 2008, at 11:12 AM, Don Ingle wrote:

> Re: Marching trombones
> Many bands used valve trombones for marching since the slide didn't  
> go out to a 7th position, a problem in tihgt formation. Use of the  
> v.bone was common in European military bands and to somewhat  
> popular use here.
> As to use of some of the mentioned brass horns in OKO, I suggest  
> two names right off: Dudley Fosdick and Dick Carey. Our Ozian  
> friend Bill Haelser can do doubt supply a master list of their  
> recoded examples.
> I rest my case!
> Don Ingle