[Dixielandjazz] Fw: Banjo or guitar

[Larry Walton Entertainment]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Larry Walton Entertainment" <larrys.bands at charter.net>
To: <Gluetje1 at aol.com>
Sent: Friday, September 30, 2011 11:27 PM
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Banjo or guitar


> There are tunes that are just not appropriate for banjo but if you are 
> playing music written between about 1900 and 1930 the banjo is perfect.  I 
> like the percussive effect especially if when you don't have drums. 
> Remember that OKOM came from street bands where maximum volume was needed 
> and guitar just couldn't match the banjo there.
>
> The same with Tuba vs. string bass.  I also like a very large bass drum 
> too. It's too bad that you can't hear the resonance of the bass drum on 
> early recordings.  It leaves us with the impression that it wasn't there 
> but it's plain in all the photos of many bands that it was there.
>
> Personally for period music I like the banjo, tuba and a very large bass 
> drum.  It's too bad that there are are very few drummers that can play 
> this music correctly today.  Everyone wants to slip in R&R or swing licks 
> which is just not appropriate or they over or under play the traps.
>
> The large bass drum has a ring to it that has been banished for the more 
> percussive pop of modern music plus the larger bass is more difficult to 
> transport.  That resonance fills in the low end of the band.  I don't know 
> a single drummer that has a drum set that approximates what was used in 
> those years nor do they care.
>
> It's hard to get an authentic sound a hundred years later because we have 
> all been tainted with modern sounds and the instruments have changed.  It 
> takes real effort and commitment on everyone's part to come up with an 
> authentic sound.
>
> I think that most just don't care and that's OK too.  You work with what 
> you have.  I don't mind doing the tunes with updated bands either but I 
> really like a more authentic sound.
>
> I have a different philosophy about it.  I regard OKOM as a classic style 
> like Mozart and while some liberties can be taken should be played as 
> accurately as possible in it's style with appropriate instruments.
>
> I guess it's because when I was a little boy my parents loved to dance and 
> I sat listening to the bands.  I would sit down right in front of the 
> bands and stay there all night.   I was in heaven. There were still old 
> guys that played the style and I remember the instruments and the sounds 
> they made.
> Larry
> StL
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: <Gluetje1 at aol.com>
> To: "Larry Walton" <larrys.bands at charter.net>
> Cc: "Dixieland Jazz Mailing List" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
> Sent: Friday, September 30, 2011 8:28 PM
> Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Banjo or guitar
>
>
>> Thanks to all who responded.  I was actually hoping for some responses
>> from band leaders or musicians where the banjo/guitarist is switching
>> instruments within the same performance.  But that's OK.
>>
>> Ginny
>>
>>
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