[Dixielandjazz] Playing Conch shells

[David Richoux]

A few years ago the large band I am in (California Repercussions) were  
invited to play at the Pro Bowl football game in Honolulu. While  
there, I went shopping for a good conch - most of the ones I found  
were too big for easy transportation or had not been cut for blowing.  
Seems like people just want decorative shells - the vendors seemed  
quite surprised to hear me play them!
I did finally find a good one, not very expensive - and I have used it  
a few times with my jug band.

(When the band toured Australia in 1999 many didgeridoos were  
purchased, and when we went to Brazil the horn players found some  
long, twisted cow horns in one shop very interesting & loud - but  
nobody bought one.)

Dave RIchoux

On Dec 20, 2008, at 7:01 AM, Stephen G Barbone wrote:

> The below is snipped from a review of a recent Steve Turre (modern  
> jazz/latin trombone) performance.  It included a picture of Mr.  
> Turre playing a conch shell.  I am curious as to whether any of the  
> trombonists or brass players on the DJML play conch shells?
>
> Cheers,
> Steve Barbone
> www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband
>
> That piece, which closed the set, also featured a charismatic  
> prelude by Mr. Martinez. But the standout soloist was Mr. Turre, who  
> allowed himself some hard, braying accents on trombone before he  
> switched to conch shells — a signature side interest — for the  
> remainder of the tune. He sounded as if he could move in any  
> direction he wanted, but in this band his coordinates were already  
> plotted and fixed.