budbennett - Posted - 11/11/2009:  05:47:32

i'm usually bored to tears with discussions of tone, but.....i'm just curious, is the tone on the banjo don vappie is playing on the album Banjo a la Creole a good tone and a desireable tone? seems to me it's different from on the Creole Banjo album - which i much prefer both tone wise and musically (not that either album gives much to not love musically!).

i'm asking because i've been trying to make a cheap old tenor playable and the tone on it seems to my ear to be close to the one on Banjo a la Creole and that really surprises me. i know i must be wrong on that but in my tinkering i've got at least a listenable and playable second instrument now. i was not really satisfied with it until i noticed that it kind of sounds like don's tonewise.

Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 11/11/2009:  06:52:33

Bud,

Don Vappie is a friend of mine - plus heīs my guru jazz- and banjo-wise. My music and playing style is very close to his - however Iīm not trying to copy him. I have my own style(s).

Don has told me, that he a few years ago searched for a more dry and mellow sound - as he imagined/knew, that the banjo sound/sustain was back in the early 20s. As you may know, he has also studied and performed in the styles of Johnny St. Cyr and Danny Barker - playing an old 6-string Vega (I think).

Donīs tenor is an OME (model unknown to me) - now equipped with an Elite fiber head. He uses heavy gauge strings 010-016-024W-032W (nickel wounds). He uses a heavy gauge (cheap yellow plastic) pick with very rounded tips.

Like you I wondered a little - when I heard Banjo á la Creole for the first time - about his now very dry sound. But I have accepted/adapted it and do like it very much now - it suits especially his advanced single string playing very much.

Don is in my eyes/ears the absolutely leading jazz banjo player worldwide - or maybe more correct - an absolutely leading N.O./Creole jazz musician/innovator - Iīll never question his choice of banjo sound due to this.

BTW - IMHO Banjo á la Creole is a MUST for every 4-string banjo player to own, study and love.

I myself do also set up my banjos with a "deep", mellow sound. My soloist banjo is a B&D Silver Bell #6 NPU (the ebony banjo) with a REMO Renaissance head and a Farquhar bridge - I use the same strings gauges as Don - and I use a really heavy pick - a Read Bear Tortis 1.1 mm standard beveled triangular pick.

Basicly my banjo has a more clear sound and a longer sustain than Donīs - but I do often damp the bright sound part plus shorten the sustain via some playing techniques. That way I often end up with a sound very similar to Donīs.

Kindly regards

Polle

budbennett - Posted - 11/11/2009:  07:01:11

i listen to banjo a la creole and creole banjo a few times a week as well as wild man blues (eddie davis) and your album Polle (i love that Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives to Me). i really like Don's playing a lot.

i just ordered a tenor neck for one of my banjos and i plan on spending a lot of time playing it. trying to learn all i can!

NYCJazz - Posted - 11/11/2009:  07:49:00

Bud

You couldn't ask for a much better answer to your question!

Nathan

budbennett - Posted - 11/11/2009:  07:58:51

i agree nathan, it's nice to get good and useable information from people who know what they are talking about.

banjopaolo - Posted - 11/11/2009:  10:35:22

I haven't heard the Don Vappie's albums you mention so I can't say anything, but maybe Polle is right talking about Heads, that can change very much the sound of the same instrument: i'm now using a Elite Amber on my prewar Gibson archtop and keep it not too tight with a thick bridge, the sound is more mellow and profound, it reduces the brilliance of the archtop but it is still very powerfull and cutting when needed!
bye
paolo

rudykizuty - Posted - 11/11/2009:  13:59:39

This thread has come right on time.....I ordered both Vappie cd's just last night Now if I can just handle the suspense waiting for them to get here

Anthony Herner
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You have to practice even to be lousy -- Jack Benny

Edited by - rudykizuty on 11/11/2009 14:01:41

budbennett - Posted - 11/11/2009:  15:42:12

they're both really good anthony, creole banjo though is my favorite of the two.

i forget which it's on, but the world is waiting for the sunrise is on one and it's a VERY fine version. that's probably my favorite song to play and it's a real treat to hear don playing it.

Compass56 - Posted - 11/11/2009:  16:26:14

"The World Is Waiting On the Sunrise" is on Mr. Vappie's Banjo a la Creole CD. There are many great versions of that tune out there, and this one is as good as any I've heard.

Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 11/12/2009:  02:54:21

I do not regard Don as a banjo virtuos at first hand. To me heīs first of all a fantastic musician and a leading interpreter of N.O. & Creole Jazz. Other native and roots music styles are included in his music world as well.

BTW - Donīs main instrument is the bass - heīs also a terrific guitarist, mandolinist and singer. Plus arranger, band leader etc.

He often appears at concerts with other top musicians - without his banjo.

I met him last time in june - here in DK - on his fantastic custom 7-string guitar only - with "Lillian Boutté and Her Musical Friends".

I do in the same way first of all consider myself a jazz musician and interpreter more than a banjoist. BTW - Iīll often play my tenor guitar or 6-string jazz guitar instead of the banjo.

My goal with this explanation is - donīt consider Donīs recordings as Banjo-CDīs - they are much more than that.

Regarding the tune "The World is Waiting" - I have 3 recordings of this with Don on the banjo - plus Iīve heard him playing it live many times - he never plays it twice in the same way - heīll improvise his playing completely every time.

Kindly regards - and Pardon my poor English

Polle

budbennett - Posted - 11/12/2009:  04:48:47

your english is very good Polle. i like having you here on this site because you know so much about the tenor banjo and jazz music.

RUBY2 - Posted - 11/12/2009:  10:24:44

Hi All
I can't find Don's cd's
Has anyone had any luck in getting them from England?
I have tried Amazon and play but can only find a few downloads of a couple of tracks and am not sure if I would be buying the right ones?
Is Banjo a la creole a complete album ?
With Thanks
Richard

Polle Flaunoe - Posted - 11/12/2009:  20:27:04

Richard,

You can buy directly from Don: vappielle.com/OnlineShop.html

Go for Banjo á la Creole at first hand - this is his latest release.

Regards

Polle