[Dixielandjazz] To Those Who Dislike Jazz Banjo

[domitype]

Ginny,

I think Bela Fleck and Don Vappie are taking 5 and 4 string jazz banjo to the "next generation" pretty well, and there are other hot jazz pickers I know of (to be named later if need be - it is late ;-)

Dave Richoux

On Sep 15, 2011, at 8:10 PM, Gluetje1 at aol.com wrote:

> 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  
> 
> 
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