[Dixielandjazz] Traditional Jazz (Banjo or Guitar)

[Tony Pringle]

Dear List Mates,

I almost wrote on this subject when someone had stated that to be 
traditional jazz the band had to have a tuba and a banjo, but decided 
that a lot of people would jump in on that one. I have to say that I 
didn't see anyone refuting that particular statement. Maybe I missed it?

All the bands in which I have played have had banjo players starting 
with my first George Lewis style band to the New Black Eagles. Peter 
Bullis, our banjoist for many years, has sometimes brought along a tenor 
guitar and would play it on ballads like Home, Duke Ellington 
compositions or when backing a solo feature by Bill Novick. Nowadays he 
increases the muting of his banjo to approximate a more guitar-like 
sound for such features.

I actually prefer a rhythm section of guitar, string bass, piano and 
drums for traditional jazz. The sound is lighter and swings way more in 
my estimation. I would draw people's attention to the Kid Ory Band's 
rhythm section and that of the Luis Russell band. Note also that Jelly 
Roll Morton used Bud Scott on guitar on some of his recordings. On our 
recording of "Nothing But The Blues" we had Duke Robillard, of "Room 
Full Of Blues" fame, on 4 or 5 tracks and I thought that the sound was 
very much to my liking.

This is not to say that I don't like banjo having had the pleasure of 
playing for many years with Peter Bullis and also having enjoyed playing 
with such players as Jimmy Mazzy, Jürgen Kulus, Mike Cox, Mal Horne and 
Bill Dixon to name a few.

BTW - referring to the banjo must go with tuba thing, I would like to 
point out that string bass works so much better and the bass player can 
also help by tuning the banjo.

Cheers,

Tony Pringle
Leader, New Black Eagle Jazz Band