Clifton Chenier's box
Barry B. Bean
What sort of accordion did Clifton Chenier use? I've seen pictures of
him with a Paolo Soprani 41/120, but did it have Musette tuning? Tone
Chambers? Any special features?
BBB
BTW: I'm still hoping someone can recommend a music store in Columbia
MO that might have a few boxes to look at.
-
B.B. Bean - Have horn, will travel bbb...@beancotton.com
Peach Orchard, MO http://www.beancotton.com/bbbean.shtml
Toby Hanson
In article <1997120321...@mail.sheltonbbs.com>, "Barry B. Bean"
<bbb...@beancotton.com> wrote:
>What sort of accordion did Clifton Chenier use? I've seen pictures of
>him with a Paolo Soprani 41/120, but did it have Musette tuning? Tone
>Chambers? Any special features?
To the best of my knowledge he had more than one accordion in his career.
He played Paolo Soprani, Hohner, and Petosa that I know of. I'm pretty
sure they were musettes. I wouldn't know about tone chambers or any other
special features.
--
-Toby Hanson
jtha...@aa.net.TREET
http://www.aa.net/~jthanson
"I never realized Tennessee was such a big oil producing state!"
Remove ".TREET" (Armour's immitation Spam) to make address edible.
Barry B. Bean
On Thu, 04 Dec 1997 21:43:14 -0800, Toby Hanson wrote:
>>What sort of accordion did Clifton Chenier use? I've seen pictures of
>>him with a Paolo Soprani 41/120, but did it have Musette tuning? Tone
>>Chambers? Any special features?
>
>To the best of my knowledge he had more than one accordion in his career.
>He played Paolo Soprani, Hohner, and Petosa that I know of. I'm pretty
>sure they were musettes. I wouldn't know about tone chambers or any other
>special features.
Thanks for the info.
BBB
Pete Nalda
It is indeed a pretty known fact that he played whatever he could get his
hands on. The brands below are correct and I think there are others as
well. I've seen him with at least 4 different boxes on album covers and
pics.
Most of these were usually at least 3 read set (treble) instruments and I
believe there is only 1 album on Arhoolie that the box is dry tuned (no
vibratto). That being "Sings the Blues" ca. 1966).
This info is *not* fact, only what I've heard from others and observations
I've made from listening.
In article <1997120514...@mail.sheltonbbs.com>, "Barry B. Bean"
<bbb...@beancotton.com> wrote:
> On Thu, 04 Dec 1997 21:43:14 -0800, Toby Hanson wrote:
>
> >>This part snipped.
> >
> >To the best of my knowledge he had more than one accordion in his career.
> >He played Paolo Soprani, Hohner, and Petosa that I know of. I'm pretty
> >sure they were musettes. I wouldn't know about tone chambers or any other
> >special features.
>
> Thanks for the info.
>
> BBB
> -
> B.B. Bean - Have horn, will travel
bbb...@beancotton.com
> Peach Orchard, MO
http://www.beancotton.com/bbbean.shtml
--
Pete Nalda
Email lpn...@bga.com
http://www.realtime.net/~lpnalda
EGWW
I have Al Rapone's fine cd tribute to Clifton Chenier and wonder if Clifton
ever played a three row button box and how much of Rapone's tribute is on
button box...I understand Rapone is a piano man, the cover photo is three row
with an interesting pickup cover on the entire treble grill. the cuts sound
like a PA, but I know little about Zydeco/blues scale structure. To my ear, it
could be an amazing player on button box or very good player on PA. any rate, I
want Al Rapone to give me some lessons and I have heard he does give
lessons....any help locating him??
.Jimmy Bellows, accordion chairman, Delta Guitar, Isleton Ca
Bruce Gerow
Hi,
I had the pleasure of playing a few jobs with Al Rapone.I play PA and Al
plays 3 Row and YES he is an amazing player (and quite the gentleman
also).He was playing a Hohner with the grill covered when I played with
him.Last I heard he was living in San Francisco.He was recording for Blind
Pig records at one time.I'll see what I can find out.
Good Luck,
LooseBruce
EGWW <eg...@aol.com> wrote in article
<19971209200...@ladder02.news.aol.com>...
KHSEKARP
>
>To the best of my knowledge he had more than one accordion in his career.
>He played Paolo Soprani, Hohner, and Petosa that I know of. I'm pretty
>sure they were musettes. I wouldn't know about tone chambers or any other
>special features.
I would think he never used tone chambers preferring the bite that all those
forward-sounding reeds would give. Towards the end of his life he did start
using synthesized sounds on the accordion. I believe this was a heavily
rhinestoned Petosa. Personally, I hated the sound of that instrument, but
thats just my opinion.
Ken
Bruce Gerow
I believe he went to the synth type accordion due to illness as he was not
strong enough to handle the bellows anymore.
LooseBruce
EGWW
Mr looseBrooce, while we're chatting about Clifton C and Al Rapone, the reason
I wanted Rapone's # is that I want a little Zydeco instruction
as I may have suggested in reply to you last suggestion to find Rapone. do you
know of a Z player in SF area who may teach???
Jimmy Bellows
Cliff Bentz
C.J. Chenier Jr. has two Baldoni custom tuned Zydeco piano accordions
and they have the true sound associated with the Zydeco button box
(Chenier, Queen Ida, Rockin Sidney and other lessor know groups).
Cliff Bentz
EGWW
in response to Cliff's very pertinent comments regarding C.J. Chenier's PA
tuned to approximate button box sound,
I have Al Rapone's "Tribute To Clifton Chenier" cd and in my view, we have a
wonderful recording here...I have wondered how Al could be such an amazing
button man. After reading the cover notes we have a member of the band, Virgil
Nelson of the "Butanes" playing PA as well as Hammond organ...Cliff's point
may be applicable here as well as with C.J's Baldoni....
..the difference I can discern is not as much in the sound as the phrasing.
For the button box we need a change in direction now and then.
on several of the more blues based tunes we have standard structure and lengthy
lyrical phrasing for the box....regardless of which box we're hearing, it's
Rapone's great Zydeco and a great tribute.....and in my case I'm learning a
great deal more playing along with old Al than I have in quite some time.....
Jimmy Bellows
Pete Nalda
I also pretty much hated that synth accordion sound. I do understand he
was using it for health reasons. Fortunately that sound only made it onto
a couple of recordings.
In article <01bd063b$d88872e0$a7d4...@mypc.tdsnet.com>, "Bruce Gerow"
<bge...@ny.tds.net> wrote:
> I believe he went to the synth type accordion due to illness as he was not
> strong enough to handle the bellows anymore.
> LooseBruce
> .
> >
> > I would think he never used tone chambers preferring the bite that all
> those
> > forward-sounding reeds would give. Towards the end of his life he did
> start
> > using synthesized sounds on the accordion. I believe this was a heavily
> > rhinestoned Petosa. Personally, I hated the sound of that instrument,
> but
> > thats just my opinion.
> >
> > Ken
> >
--
KHSEKARP
>.the difference I can discern is not as much in the sound as the phrasing.
Good point. But what I've found is that the "sound" is very much what the
public identifies as zydeco. Just as you can play "Zydeco sont pas sale" with
and without a rubboard player. Same tempo, same "beat," but without the
rubboard, its not zydeco. (Don't believe me? Try performing as a zydeco band
witout one.)
Ken