Bass Cano - real instrument or what?
Tubaman
I am a DJ on KFJC, did a long running show that featured mostly older
jazz, jug, blues, novelty and etc. Often when I played blues from the
1930s some listener would call or write to ask about the "instrument"
listed as "Bass Cano," especially in reference to Alfred Elkins
recording with Big Joe Williams in 1941.
Ever since then I have been researching this instrument - some
musicologists (and others) say it was a very simple one-string bass
guitar (not a wash-tub bass) while others say it probably was "Vocal
Bass" sung to imitate the sound of a string bass (like the Mills
Brothers often did.)
I have asked this question on several other groups and lists without
much conclusive evidence - anybody have a clue?
David Richoux
Joel
> listener would call or write to ask about the "instrument"
> listed as "Bass Cano," especially in reference to Alfred Elkins
> recording with Big Joe Williams in 1941.
>
> Ever since then I have been researching this instrument - some
> musicologists (and others) say it was a very simple one-string bass
> guitar (not a wash-tub bass) while others say it probably was "Vocal
> Bass" sung to imitate the sound of a string bass (like the Mills
> Brothers often did.)
> David Richoux
Nobody else has tried, so I'll offer a bit of odd information that may
or may not be related. "Cano" is Latin for 'I sing'.
Joel Shimberg
David Sanderson
Well, it's actually "canto," "I sing," or "cantare," the infinitive "to
sing." I now find myself thinking of "cano" = "cane," as in the flutes
made of cane that were traditional. This doesn't help with recording,
which I haven't heard anyway, but may provide some glimmer to research.
Speaking of cane, I am similarly perplexed by the set of Clifford Hayes
(Dixieland Jug Blowers and others) recordings that feature what is
referred to as a "walking cane flute." This sounds like a wooden flute
or pipe, has a fair range, and sounds like it's played straight, not
transversely. The performer is playing hot jazz, a real virtuoso, but
I've never found out any more about it.
A while back there was discussion somewhere, and I put their 1930 "Tiger
Rag" on my Web site. Go to http://www.dwsanderson.com/music.html and
scroll down; click on the title for RealAudio playback.
--
David Sanderson
East Waterford, Maine
Joel
wrote:
> Joel wrote:
> Well, it's actually "canto," "I sing," or "cantare," the infinitive "to
> sing." > David Sanderson
> East Waterford, Maine
The third word of the Aeneid, usually translated as "I sing", is
"cano".
Joel
carlbaron
> Speaking of cane, I am similarly perplexed by the set of Clifford Hayes
> (Dixieland Jug Blowers and others) recordings that feature what is
> referred to as a "walking cane flute." This sounds like a wooden flute
> or pipe, has a fair range, and sounds like it's played straight, not
> transversely. The performer is playing hot jazz, a real virtuoso, but
> I've never found out any more about it.
(RST Records JPCD-1501-2, JPCD-1502-2, JPCD-1503-2) and the only flute
like sound is in bands appears to be Buford Threlkeld (as known as
"Whistler" like in "Whistler and his Jug Band) who plays, according the
CD notes, nose-whistle. I don't see any other entries for flute-like
sounds. By the way, back in the 1950s, Jean Sheperd would often play the
nose-flute on his radio show.
Carl
David Sanderson
Yes, indeed, now that you mention it; glad someone's paying attention to
these important details. It's hard to beat a newsgroup where people
correct you for misremembering Virgil.
--
David Sanderson
East Waterford, Maine
David Sanderson
Yes - what I'm talking about is in fact on Volume IV, JPCD-1504-2, all
later recordings from 1929 and after, including the 1931 cuts backing
Jimmie Rodgers. The walking cane flute appears on the Phillips'
Louisville Jug Band cuts, in the person of Charles "Cane" Adams, cuts
made in August/September 1930, apparently with personnel separate from
but likely connected with the Hayes musicians. Try listening to the
"Tiger Rag" on my Web page for a sample; Adams was quite a musician,
whatever he was playing.
carlbaron
> Yes - what I'm talking about is in fact on Volume IV, JPCD-1504-2, all
> later recordings from 1929 and after, including the 1931 cuts backing
> Jimmie Rodgers. The walking cane flute appears on the Phillips'
> Louisville Jug Band cuts, in the person of Charles "Cane" Adams, cuts
> made in August/September 1930, apparently with personnel separate from
> but likely connected with the Hayes musicians. Try listening to the
> "Tiger Rag" on my Web page for a sample; Adams was quite a musician,
> whatever he was playing.
hasn't had it (I got the other three from him).
Carl
rfsc...@ku.edu
Roberta Schwartz