[Dixielandjazz] To Those Who Dislike Jazz Banjo

[Gluetje1 at aol.com]

Those on the list who wish jazz banjo would just disappear can probably  
reincarnate quickly without fear of being exposed to any jazz banjo in  their 
next life.  It's never been taught in schools, never been taught to  the 
young to any significant degree. In fact, no instructional materials  for four 
string banjo have ever existed for the young.  Nor can  one can declare it 
as an instrument for college studies as they could any of the  other jazz 
instruments.
 
Four string and five string banjo are as different from each other in terms 
 of proficiency demands as, for example, bassoon is from trumpet.  (And  
yes, I've played a fair bit of bassoon in my time and taken the  requisite 
college brass performance course.)
 
Jazz banjo only ever happened in the first place because when it's  sound 
was popular, violinists and guitarists who needed work adapted and  picked up 
banjos for strumming and they were all adults.  Those who  found their love 
for the banjo in the '50's or '60's were late teens  or young adults who 
had to scrounge for mentors.
 
Bottom line: as jazz banjo is being lost, it is not being  replaced. 
 
 
As for me, I consider this truly sad as I both love  well-played jazz banjo 
and hold in great esteem the role the  banjo played in American History.  
So if 1, or 2, or a few, are enough  to make a difference and negate my 
opening prediction -- that's  where my effort is committed while I have time left 
on the planet.
 
Ginny