[Dixielandjazz] mabuhay

[cebuisle2 at aol.com]

Hello all. haven't posted in a long while as I live in the Philippines now and have since last year. There is no jazz here especially no Dixie. But I thought i would mention two curious banjos I saw in use during the holidays. One was clearly a homemade affair, a four stringer possible tenor but crudely made with a coat of white paint on the shell and head.A street musician plucked out a credible "Jingle Bells" on it while accompanied by a guitarist with the most battered instrument I have ever seen. It was a smaller instrument, maybe a relative of the larger one. 

The most interesting was a 12 string banjo that was the lead instrument in a senior citizen group that was playing professionally. It had 12 strings and a short neck. Definately a banjo of sorts, but odd looking. had more of a mandolin sound. Another member of this quartet had what looked like a very small string bass. It even had a peg on the bottom, but he played it across his lap like a guitar, plucking away at the bass line. They were good, and I slipped them a few pesos.Almost made me wish I had my old Capitol Special with me-----

A very prosperous New Year to all. maybe your recession will cause a return to the "roots" of jazz. No recession here=Same number of coconuts and bananas--------

????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Tradjazz Ted?? in Dipolog