For enthusiasts of early banjo
Unknown band circa 1918
From the archives of AFM, Local 104, where I am the Business Agent. This band with banjos, once played in the bar scene at Salt Lake City, Utah. Note the paper lanterns, the raised stage and banner to an old German song hung on the wall in back. circa 1918. The musicians Union was here in 1901.
Views: 109
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Comment by Joel Hooks on November 8, 2013 at 8:04pm
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Hi David,
The banjo leaning between his legs looks to be a SSS presentation banjo. He must of had some bucks!!!
His would likely be in the $200+ range with all the inlay. If 1918 is correct, that banjo would have been over 20 years old.
I can't tell what is on the floor. The banjo he is holding is later than my banjo knowledge.
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Now that I look at it a little more, the combination is the same as the Van Eps Trio (with the addition of a piano.
That "sound" was a Van Eps creation around the same time the photo was taken. Five string banjo (gut strings) Saxophone and drums (you can hear piano in some of the Van Eps Trio recordings.
There is a good chance that they were trying to (or did) sound like this... with piano recorded in 1918
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZeiSTuIfPo
With drums in 1915.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2Ur1lwmChk
Thanks for sharing this photo!
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A little more insight... Perhaps the SSS banjo would not have been as valuable at that time. The plectra, and then the tenor, had displaced the five string. He might have been able to get that old thing for a song!
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Comment by Strumelia on November 8, 2013 at 10:59pm
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The heavy guy in the back appears to be sitting on/in the keyboard corner of the open piano. !
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Comment by David Spalding Sharp on November 9, 2013 at 3:57pm
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Thanks Joel for the insight, it is an unusal instrumentation. Strumelia I think your right he's acutally sitting on top of the body of the piano.
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