[Dixielandjazz] String Bass or Tuba

[Stephen G Barbone]

> Rick Zahniser <zahniser99 at gmail.com> wrote
>
> Obviously, a tuba is better for marching (funerals or parades) than a
> string bass!!
>
> Both were available, because the schools had one.? String basses were
> actually pretty expensive...
> certainly more than a cheap tuba.
>
> A lot of marching in NO... I suspect mostly with a tuba, altho I
> wasn't there. <snark>
>
> Rick Jolley

Dear Rick:

There are always exceptions. Next New Year's Day, check out the  
Philadelphia Mummers Parade on your local TV. About 20 String Bands  
compete during the day. String Bands are mostly banjoes, Saxophones,  
percussion and, string basses.

They march about a mile and a half during the competition. Their size  
is anywhere from 20 to 50 or more musicians. The string bass players  
have a special harness which enables them to carry the bass in front  
of them and play while marching and/or doing special tricks/formations  
etc.

The Mummers parade lasts all day and has many divisions (eg Fancy  
Brigades, Comic Brigades etc.,) so be sure to check it out during the  
String Band competitions.

For those banjophiles on the list, you will be amazed at the number of  
banjoists that make this all day parade. HUNDREDS. Yet at the same  
time, there are always more banjo pluckers available for other gigs  
that day because there are many older guys who can't, or won't, walk  
that far especially on a cold winter's day.

For a quick look at a string band with walking/dancing basses see the  
below link and check it out at around the 2 minute mark for basses and  
banjoes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PG3PIxqabk

Some folks say that New Orleans Jazz owes a lot to the Mummers, who  
played their ragtimey music long before the likes of Buddy Bolden.  
Check out the below "serenade".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWCwiK-VSik&feature=related

Cheers,
Steve Barbone
www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband