Jug Band Miscellany

Subject: Jug Band Miscellany
From:
Date: 29 Jul 99 - 07:49 AM

I have been listening to some of the old jug bands. First of all I think Gus Cannon is the best jug player of them all. (I promised myself I wouldn't start any contraversial threads--so much for that promise.)

The jug band that I haven't listened to is the Jim Kweskin, because I can't find any of his records in our library and I don't own any. That means I will have to b-b-buy one. I would be interested in recommendations of what you think are his good albums.

As I recall he did covers of the Memphis Jug Bands' "Lindberg Hop" and "Stealin' Stealin'". I would like the albums to contain these if possible.

I was going to put up Noah Lewis (from the Jug Stompers) as the best harmonica player with a jug band; but I recall the harmonica player with Jim Kweskin (Lehman?) was really good.

Murray

Subject: RE: Jug Band Miscellany
From: Bugsy
Date: 29 Jul 99 - 08:35 AM

Are you my old time folkie pal MUZ???

bugsy

Subject: RE: Jug Band Miscellany
From: Pete Curry
Date: 29 Jul 99 - 12:14 PM

I recommend "Jim Kweskin & The Jug Band's Greatest Hits," available from Elderly Instruments, Critics Choice Music and elsewhere. The harmonica player in the JK Jug Band was Mel Lymon, and he was an exceptional player.

Subject: RE: Jug Band Miscellany
From: Roger in Baltimore
Date: 29 Jul 99 - 03:36 PM

Just don't discuss politics with Mel.

Big RiB

Subject: RE: Jug Band Miscellany
From: MAG (inactive)
Date: 29 Jul 99 - 04:12 PM

Fritz Richmond of the Kweskin Jug Band is (still) playing with Geoff Muldauer; they were at the Riverside Blues Fest in Portland 4th of July. He plays jug and washtub base

MA

Subject: RE: Jug Band Miscellany
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 29 Jul 99 - 04:14 PM

Read up on Mel Lyman. He was a story all by himself. Great tone though.

Subject: RE: Jug Band Miscellany
From: Tony Burns
Date: 29 Jul 99 - 06:48 PM

I think Fritz is also playing in the J-Band with John Sebastian.

For lots of jug band information on the web see The Jug Band Rag.

Certainly was a treat to me.

Subject: RE: Jug Band Miscellany
From: Mike Billo
Date: 29 Jul 99 - 06:49 PM

Fritz Richmond and Geoff Muldaur play with John Sebastian in a jug band called the J-Band that has a new CD out called "Chasin' Gus' Ghost" that's sort of a Gus Cannon tribute. It also has live recordings of Yank Rachell made shortly before his death. A cool CD. Also, I agree about Noah Lewis. A terrific player, although I think Will Shade (Son Brimmer), of the Memphis Jug Band, may have had a greater influence on how the harmonica is played in a jug band setting.

Subject: RE: Jug Band Miscellany
From: Art Thieme
Date: 29 Jul 99 - 09:22 PM

There was a Mel Lyman thread here a while ago too.

Art

Subject: RE: Jug Band Miscellany
From: Art Thieme
Date: 29 Jul 99 - 09:47 PM

Say, Gus played the banjo, right? That's all he played when I saw him. Will Shade was the harp player & jug player too. Or was that the Memphis Jug Band?

Whatever

Art

Subject: RE: Jug Band Miscellany
From: Mike Billo
Date: 29 Jul 99 - 10:53 PM

That's right Art. Gus played the banjo, and in his younger days, also a jug, held in place with a holder that wrapped around his neck. I envy you for actually having seen him play. Noah Lewis was his harp player, and Ashley Thompson his guitarist. Will Shade played harp in the Memphis Jug Band, where jug was usually played by Jab Jones.

Subject: RE: Jug Band Miscellany
From: Cathy Brady
Date: 29 Jul 99 - 11:41 PM

Must be something in the air - or in the water. I got interested in Mel Lyman from a BGrass-L thread recently. On the net I found text of the Rolling Stone story about him with 70's update. I see he died in 79. How did he die? Or did he ascend?

Subject: RE: Jug Band Miscellany
From:
Date: 30 Jul 99 - 12:14 AM

Ledgend has it that Mel Lyman is in orbit, Cathy. There is a writeup about him in "Harmonicas, Harps and Heavy Breatheres" (I forget the author; but it is a great book about harmonicas, players, and history.)

Roger, I thought it was religion that one wasn't supposed to discuss with him. The book I mention implies that he thought folk music was sacrosanct and that he really tore into Bob Dillon about his blasphemy when he plugged in.

Thanks for the recommendation Pete, I found it in Elderly'a catalogue and I will include it in my next order from them.

My memory has Lyman playing in a style closer to Shade than to Lewis; but his playing is much crisper and less sloppy.