[Dixielandjazz] Give Me The Banjo ?

[Don Ingle]

On 11/7/2011 9:58 AM, John Gill wrote:
> ..." A bit of footage of Ossman was seen but not identified. Fred Van Eps was mentioned and his picture shown but no info..."
>
Don Ingle responded: Of course the Van Epps mentiponed was the family 
head of the Van Epps kinder - George and Bobby, guitar and piano giants 
in studio and recording world as well as jazz.

Program time no doubt left out the many others who excelled on banjo - 
Luther "Red" Roundtree, whose banjo drove the early Spike Jones' City
Slickers Bluebirds; Perry Botkin, Crosby's guitarist who may have been 
the best studio exponent of the banjo...and on and on. The fact is that 
most guitarists from the early jazz period up through big band and 
studio work played both banjo and guitar with equal skill and talent. 
Just as bass players also played brass bass (tuba family) as well, the 
professionals who made their living from plucking strings had to know 
and excel in both or not last in the business as the styles and needs 
changed.

Had the pleasure of hearing Don Vappie play in person and he is 
correctly called a master of the instrument. His version of "Buddy 
Bolden's Blues" is poetry in sound and style.

I will add one name - that of Charlie Marshall, a tenor guitar and 
banjoist with a gentle and swinging style that was unfortunately taken 
out of music by a farming accident that cost him an arm.
Most wouldnot know of him - but those who do remember him well. But I 
have some live recordings he made with the early Sons of Bix that put 
him, playing wise, in the Condon chair of tasty - felt more than heard - 
rhythm players.. What a loss to all who appreciate such.