Bread & Butter

JAZZMASTER

A new arrival for the collection and just a lobster. Not a bad find at this price considering some of the over inflated offers on a well known auction platform. This specimen was detected not far from our new to be located Shep’s Shack. It does, however offer more confusion into the growing number of Jazz Master’s in our troupe. For a start this one is one word, but because of the slogan, Extra Powerful Tone I’d suggest this ten hole tin can was available in the Antipodes in the early 1950’s.

Rockman’s General Store in Yallourn, Victoria had the single reed “with extra powerful tone” on sale in 1954. Millroy’s of Rockhampton, Queensland had five models in their store ranging from 5/9 to 29/6 in price at the same time. Interestingly, (but not very funny) this is stamped ‘made in Eastern Germany’. Remember we also had one ‘made in Japan’.

I have spotted a couple of different Jazzmaster models for sale locally.

I believed there had to be a Trademark. I searched our (Australian) IP website and came across Jazz Master (#70648), but with no other information. I called on the guru (Pat Missin) for his help and, as per usual, he obliged with a German TM and, as per usual, he threw another curve ball.

I had located the Jazz Master in a 1945 Schlossmeinel-Hugo Rauner catalogue and silly me had thought all was resolved in regards to the identity of the fabricator. I questioned Pat as to how this relates to the Schlossmeinel version. “Hi Shep. Honestly no idea. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were more than one TM for Jazz Master or Jazzmaster. Also when East Germany nationalised various companies, older TMs seem to have been recycled, so the same TM might be associated with different companies at different times. The more you know, the more you know you don’t know.” The unknown unknowns!

I’m thunkin’ my mouse eared Jazz Master (two words) was produced by Weidlich.

Down Under

Singles – One with & one without.

Two rippers from the Sunshine State.

Good Will Remedy have dropped another cracker single (one without) and with it a taste of album number six due later this year. I have preached their world class musicianship in previous sermons and I will continue to do so as they continue to release tunes of the calibre of Jay. A moving upbeat tribute in song, Will Lebihan, bassist singer and songwriter declared, “Jay is a song about loss but not sadness. It’s a song that feels like timeless memories – personal, yet relatable. Whilst there is undeniable pain in losing someone, particularly suddenly, I wanted the song to project positivity via a warm and uplifting arrangement – one that could provide a form of comfort in knowing that there is a better place for us all.” When Will sings, “that rock n roll concert above the clouds, just got another VIP in the crowd…” he sings of hope, of positivity, of strength in knowing that Jay will be spending his time doing what he loved the most. Love the line that follows, “I hope they’ve gotta enough JD for ya, JD and cola for ya mate.”

The other single I’d like to share (the one with) is Even God Has A Dog – of course he would and he might even have a harmonica (God not the canine). This tune by Dean Winchester & The Supernatural Band has a wee bit of breath harp and sweet violin and sometimes I’m not sure where one begins and (bl)ends. Perhaps you could help me out? Dean penned this Country/Folk ballad, which was recognised at Tamworth this year when it reached the top five in the National Songwriting Awards (New Songwriter).

Up Over

Please check these from overseas. Willie Nelson with Streets Of Baltimore (Mickey Raphael harmonica) and Radio Company’s Restless Man.

Larry Nelson

My son’s done it again! On a recent ‘Op Shop’ run, he found me another harmonica album – as if I needed another one! Who in heck’s name is Larry Nelson? The vinyl was in excellent condition so I was happy to spin it on my turntable. It was a little underwhelming. One track off the album has been posted on YouTube, a cover of Dylan’s Ballad Of A Thin Man – have to say the harmonica playing isn’t of the highest quality, however Billy Preston does add some nice keyboard.

Funny that the mono version of the album provides some liner notes and the stereo one doesn’t. I’m not too sure of some of their claims, in particular this one; “For this album, it was of the utmost importance to find the right musician, one who could present the harmonica with all of its potential. World Pacific Records considered a numerous harmonica players before deciding on Larry.” I wonder who they were?

The subsequent search on Larry Nelson, however was a rewarding and informative journey. Larry Nelson is actually Larry Nechtel one of the celebrated ‘Wrecking Crew’ – a group of session muso’s who were based out of Los Angeles. Apparently the label felt Larry’s surname was just a little too strange for the record to sell well. Many a sixties and seventies hit was backed by them. Members of the crew you may know include Glen Campbell and Leon Russell. Lawrence William Knechtel (August 4, 1940 – August 20, 2009) was primarily a keyboard player and bassist and probably best known for his brilliant piano work on Simon & Garfunkel’s Bridge Over Troubled Waters. He was the bass player for the bassless Doors on their debut album and in 1971 he joined Bread as their bass guitarist. On their hit Guitar Man he played the lead guitar riff.

In an effort to find more of his harmonica playing, I came across a long play record by the Mike Post Coalition entitled ‘Fused’. Larry, along with Mike, composed an instrumental Big Mouth Harp (2:58 in). Mike would later compose many well known TV show themes, which included my favourite The Rockford Files. Larry also blew harp on, would you believe, Herb Alpert’s This Guy’s In Love With You (hear it below). I would love to have been a fly on the recording studio wall to hear why they decided on harmonica and where it was embedded.

I’m wondering if it may have been Larry who played harmonica on Neil Diamond’s Brooklyn Roads. Still looking for the culprit. Larry tickles the ivories on Neil’s 1970 hit Cracklin’ Rosie, so maybe.

Riff Raff

This month’s feature was a Pictorial #2 War Blues. Next month is a follow up to February’s feature The Kreisler of the Mouth Organ. Les Benoit’s mate is in focus. Don’t forget to check out the first of each month’s Short Snort (Organ) too!

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