[Dixielandjazz] Traditional Jazz (Banjo or Guitar)

[dwlit at cpcug.org]

One aspect that Tony misses in his discussion is whether the tunes played
are 2-beat or 4-beat. 2-beat wants banjo and tuba, using string bass is
most effective with 4-beat.

--Sheik

> 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
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