On The Gin Gin Ginny Shore - Fox Trot - Played by Clarence Johnson

[artcraftrolls]

That US roll (a subsidiary of QRS by then) is a J. L. Cook arrangement: no pianist involved and the formula du jour is prevailing.

[Bumblebee38]

Who knows the pianist on US roll 43595 " Mountain Jack Blues "

a composition by Sid Harris

It is not James Blythe, although he was on Pm 12352 with same title , backing Ma Rainey , ( three takes KNOWN - all different and very GOOD )

THANKS in anticipation

[AAErikCO]

@Bumblebee38

Hi,

Well it could be a few people. Likely guesses would be "Tom Blake", "Eubie Jones" or "Jack Pierce", who were all J. L Cook in his early years for US. It could also be Carl Ober?. If you could email me or post on youtube a clip of the roll I could try to identify it. I don't have the roll though. You could try Kawhackita Rag, I think he was working on a US rollography. Or find someone with a US Catalog (exceedingly rare).

(Sorry, this probably doesnt' help too much!)

[AAErikCO]

@Bumblebee38

Hmm, I do have the roll on Vocalstyle, which is played by Edgar Hayes.

[Bumblebee38]

@Bumblebee38

Thank you

I can t do anything else as I have to go to a friend to play the roll

Sorry again

[KawhackitaRag]

@Bumblebee38 Hi, I have not heard this roll or found a listing for it yet, but the pianist could be J. Lawrence Cook, Chet Gordon (who I believe, but am not positive, was white), or possibly the composer, Sid Harris, himself.

[KawhackitaRag]

@Bumblebee38 Sid Harris made at least one other roll, of his own composition "Jefferson County Blues" which we both know James Blythe recorded, uncredited, as an accompaniment to Ms. Priscilla Stewart (thanks again for this recording!!! I am working on transcribing the Blythe accompaniments in my spare time!).

Harris' roll of "Jefferson County Blues" was originally issued as US roll 43664. A scan is privately available from Warren Trachtman. It was also recut as Jazz Classics roll #75.

[KawhackitaRag]

@Bumblebee38 I have a recording of a piano roll of "Jefferson County Blues" on the Johnny Maddox-produced LP "World's Greatest Piano Rolls Vol. 3". I could send you the mp3 of this recording if you want. Unfortunately, the record says nothing about which roll is which, or who plays what, but it is possible that the recording of "Jefferson County" is the Harris roll, or maybe the QRS version played by J. Lawrence Cook.

[hotsickle]

I remember when I acquired my upright Brunswick Phonograph their was a 78 of this song stuffed in behind the record cabinet...along with a pair of ladies panties...guess somebody had a hot time in the old town !

[Epc100]

Thanks. I'm dyslexic! Near spelling.

[Epc100]

Is this Clalence Johnstone of Layton & Johnstone?

[KawhackitaRag]

No. Clarence Johnstone was a vocalist... I don't believe he played the piano much if at all. His accompanist and co-vocalist was Turner Layton, who was an accomplished pianist (and roll artist!) as well as a well-known composer.

This Clarence Johnson is Clarence A. "Jelly" Johnson who was born in Kentucky in 1900 and died of tuberculosis in 1933. His main hangout was Chicago although he made at least one trip to New York to record and make rolls.

[Yaledmot]

This is a damn good piano--bright and with good repetition. I need to dig out some of my Clarence Johnson rolls. This is very good. Thanks for posting.

[Pianosyncrazy]

Great roll, perfect tempo !

[KawhackitaRag]

From what year is this roll? 1922? That is the date of copyright for this tune so I would guess the roll is also 1922. That would mean Clarence was 22 when he made this, since he was born in 1900. Hey, I'm 22 now and I'm listening to this!

0_0 o

[AAErikCO]

@KawhackitaRag

The Synco Jazz band did a recording of this on a Pathe record on 12-4-1921, so that gives you an idea of when the tune came out. The tune itself was copyrighted in 1922. Since I can't seem to locate a US catalog from this era, your guess is as good as mine when this roll was made. If there was an US word roll catalog from this period and you had it, you'd be a very popular person...

[autopiano]

The roll was released April 1922, one of three Clarence cut that month for US - the other two being 'I've Got My Habits On' and 'Bow-Wow Blues'.

[Turkeydoodlers]

hey new ones !

Nice as always!.

Wish my stroud sounded as good as yours..

[AAErikCO]

@Turkeydoodlers

Stroud instruments normally have a good sound. Get it tuned, and if the bass strings are dead, do the "looping" string trick before you replace them. I found there was a lot of life left in mine when I did this. Depends of course how well the instrument will hold a tune, but I'm guessing you'll get there too.

Thanks for watching

[Yaledmot]

My Beckwith has an absolutely dead tenor octave and it is not the strings. For 18 notes, the bridge seems to have come away from the soundboard--it is an ancient "injury" too judging by the amount of hot hide glue that has been poured into the gap.

[AAErikCO]

@Yaledmot

Well I think your piano sounds just great!

[Yaledmot]

I need to try and get it fixed. That octave just won't stand up to the rest of the piano.

The notes strike with a thunk rather than a ring/sustain.

[storpingintheswuff]

Loved it!

[AAErikCO]

Thanks for watching!