Joined: 17 Mar 2002 Posts: 10204 Location: The Land Beyond O'Hare
Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2021 5:58 am Post subject: 1920’s Hot Jazz Sound
What do you think gives the best Jazz Era sound, a trumpet or cornet?
If you prefer trumpet, would you go with a small bore, small bell horn like a Vega or Keefer? Or would you play a larger bore, modern horn and use a Solotone mute.
If your pick is cornet, would you go with a Conn 80A or something else? _________________ Jim Hatfield
The "Jazz Era" is defined as the period from 1918 to 1929. So, to me, the ideal representative horn would be from that era. Out of my collection of 50+ horns my 1923 Conn Opera Grand or my 1930 Conn 58B (production of the 58B started in 1928) would be my ideal representative trumpets to get an authentic "Jazz Era" sound. _________________ HERMOKIWI
I would say it's mostly dependent on the player and mouthpiece selection rather than the horn. But to answer the question, I would say trumpet. When I think of hot jazz, trumpet comes to mind as I think cornet does not play as "hot," if that makes sense. It is a different instrument. _________________ 2018 Schilke B6
1980's CG Selmer
1976 CG L.A. Benge
1955 Mt. Vernon Bach
1947 Olds Super
Holton Revelation Model 48
1964 Holton Galaxy Cornet
Last edited by Aaronis on Tue Jul 13, 2021 6:38 am; edited 1 time in total
Joined: 17 Mar 2002 Posts: 10204 Location: The Land Beyond O'Hare
Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2021 6:38 am Post subject:
I certainly agree. We have a '20s gig coming up and I just put my Bach 72 on the shelf in favor of a newly arrived 1925 Keefer Dansharmonic. It has a slim profile with a small bell and I've read it was designed to play unamplified in dance halls. _________________ Jim Hatfield
Joined: 22 May 2007 Posts: 2654 Location: Anacortes, WA
Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2021 7:31 am Post subject:
Red Allen Conn 40B Vocabell
Louis Armstrong Buescher 10-22R
Bix Conn 80A, 81A
Wild Bill Davison Conn 80A
Joseph Manone Conn 80A
Muggsy Spanier Conn 80A
Rex Stewart Conn 80A
I've wanted to assemble that list for a while. With all that being said, my favortie current players use none of those horns. Shaye Cohn sounds best to me on a King Master. Marla Dixon played a King Liberty for a while and sounded great. Ben Polcer sounds great on whatever trumpet he plays these days. Anyone want to take a stab at what model he's playing below.
Joined: 22 May 2007 Posts: 2654 Location: Anacortes, WA
Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2021 9:44 am Post subject:
jhatpro wrote:
Good list, Richard!
Muggsy also played a Blessing Super Artist cornet.
Ruby Braff played Besson and Benge cornets and, later, a Bach 37 long cornet.
You are correct. But i was only looking at the early works in the 20's. I also left out a number of players that I couldn't find info on. _________________ Richard
Joined: 27 Dec 2001 Posts: 8333 Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota
Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2021 12:59 pm Post subject:
I think some of it is the recording technology.
Some of it is the players and approach.
Some of it is the horns and mouthpiece.
I've got a old mid to late 1920's King Liberty in a small bore. I don't get along great with it, because it feels tight to me. Maybe it needs a different mouthpiece shank, and I definitely like more freer blowing instruments, in general. Also, I mostly play orchestra, legit, classical, and chamber music, so I don't have a ton of use for it.
However, when I play it, it's got that vibrant, compact, sound that I associate with those 1920-1930's recording by Louie and others. From the first time I played it, I was like "Ah, that's THAT sound."
Edit:
I accidently originally typed "it's not that vibrant, compact" _________________ LA Benge 3X Bb Trumpet
Selmer Radial Bb Trumpet
Yamaha 6335S Bb Trumpet
Besson 709 Bb Trumpet
Bach 184L Bb Cornet
Yamaha 731 Bb Flugelhorn
Last edited by Crazy Finn on Tue Jul 13, 2021 1:31 pm; edited 1 time in total
Joined: 17 Mar 2002 Posts: 10204 Location: The Land Beyond O'Hare
Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2021 1:04 pm Post subject:
Assume you mean't "got" instead of "not." That said, the Keefer Dansharmonic I've been gushing about has that sound - much more so IMHO that the Vega George which is a similar design. _________________ Jim Hatfield
Joined: 27 Dec 2001 Posts: 8333 Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota
Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2021 1:29 pm Post subject:
jhatpro wrote:
Assume you mean't "got" instead of "not." That said, the Keefer Dansharmonic I've been gushing about has that sound - much more so IMHO that the Vega George which is a similar design.
You are correct. I'll fix and note that. _________________ LA Benge 3X Bb Trumpet
Selmer Radial Bb Trumpet
Yamaha 6335S Bb Trumpet
Besson 709 Bb Trumpet
Bach 184L Bb Cornet
Yamaha 731 Bb Flugelhorn
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