Post 322: THE GREAT SHAYE COHN ON SPOONS!

Shaye (left) on Spoons

You constantly come across fresh delights on YouTube. For example, have you spotted the multi-talented Shaye Cohn playing THE SPOONS in a heart-warming street version of Peg Leg Howell's 1928 Banjo Blues? Watch it by

CLICKING HERE.

Oh, what fun! Among the musicians in this 15-piece orchestra, you may spot such other familiar New Orleans street performers as trombonist Barnabus Jones (this time on guitar) behind Shaye, Raychel on washtub bass, Michael Magro contributing richly on clarinet, and Ryan Baer on mandolin. Dizzy is on washboard; and at the centre of it all, leading the singing, is Scottie Swarers (Stalebread Scottie).

We must be grateful to Nicole Birrer for uploading this video.

Post 71: PEG LEG HOWELL

I have been led to Peg Leg Howell by the YouTube videos of young musicians in the streets of New Orleans. I had not previously heard of him. Many of today's performers have been inspired by Early American Black Country Music and they have revived the 90-year-old tunes of such guitarists as Peg Leg Howell, Frank Stokes and Blind Blake.

PEG LEG HOWELL (1888 - 1966) lived in Georgia and really did have a peg leg (a leg having been amputated after he was shot in a fight). His real name was Joshua Barnes Howell. He was a farm labourer and a self-taught busking guitarist. 

Howell's Trio
He is on the right; Williams on the left; Anthony centre.

As required by the mythology that often surrounds such characters, he served time in prison for alcohol offences. But in the 1920s he also made over twenty influential recordings of songs with Columbia Records. The two I must mention as having been particularly taken up again recently in New Orleans are: Banjo Blues and Too Tight Blues. Too Tight is an unusual blues in having several 8-bar three-chord vocals, interspersed with standard 12-bar instrumental improvisations. To see a jazz band playing it recently (though eschewing the 12-bar option),
CLICK HERE.
For a great foot-tapping version of Banjo Blues by fifteen of today's New Orleans buskers,
CLICK HERE.
And to hear the original 1928 recording by Peg Leg himself (with Eddie Anthony on violin),
CLICK HERE.

You can find a full Peg Leg Howell discography   BY CLICKING ON HERE.

Post 69: YOU TUBE VIDEOS - SHORT AND JOYFUL

Today, let's have some fun.

Pick your three most joyful short YouTube videos.

Here are the rules.
(1) All three videos, added together, must run for no more than 10½ minutes (i.e. an average of 3½ minutes each). 

(2) The three videos have to be of three different musical groups.

Here are my choices:

NUMBER ONE
The best traditional jazz band in the world (from New Orleans but performing in Switzerland) plays a particularly thrilling tune. The excitement builds and builds!

CLICK HERE.

NUMBER TWO
Street buskers in Asheville, North Carolina. The composer himself sings the song and plays the fiddle. And the three charming ladies among the five musicians exude happiness.

CLICK HERE.

NUMBER THREE
Pure enjoyment! About fifteen New Orleans street musicians get together in a bar one evening to play and sing Round and Round, a fun song created by Charlie Nickerson and the Memphis Jug Band in 1930. I can't resist singing along.

CLICK HERE.

I'd be interested to hear of other people's choices.