[78-L] Use of double bass in dance bands

[Tim Huskisson]

While it may be (relatively) easy to play 4 in the bar on a Brass bass, it's
a clumsy instrument to expect the player to produce 128 quarter notes every
32 bar chorus...every tune. 2 in the bar (Root and 5th, etc) just suits the
instrument better. I also doubt that arrangers would have considered Brass
Bass to be the natural choice for 4 in the bar dance music. 
I'm fairly convinced that the transition from 2, to 4-in-the-bar dance music
happened mostly as a result of the improvisations of String Bass players
within 2-in-the-Bar arrangements.

Tim Huskisson


-----Original Message-----
From: 78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com
[mailto:78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com] On Behalf Of Ron L'Herault
Sent: 25 October 2012 16:30
To: '78-L Mail List'
Subject: Re: [78-L] Use of double bass in dance bands

And it may be even more complicated than that.   One jazz band leader that I
know prefers string bass because it "swings" more.  There are subtle
placements of the accent(s) on a beat, before, at the top of, after, or at
the bottom of, that affect the pulse of the music and therefore the
all-important feeling of swing.  

Ron L

-----Original Message-----
From: 78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com
[mailto:78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com] On Behalf Of Philip Carli
Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2012 11:09 AM
To: 78-L Mail List
Subject: Re: [78-L] Use of double bass in dance bands

As a tubist, and one who played in various groups from concert to dance
bands for many years, it's easy to 'blow' four-to-the-bar. It's an
articulation issue, not wind.  And there are numerous 20s dance band records
where the tubists handle it perfectly.  Going to string bass was a change of
timbre preference and variety rather than practicality. P. Carli
________________________________________
From: 78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com
[78-l-bounces at klickitat.78online.com] on behalf of Tim Huskisson
[timhuskisson at btinternet.com]
Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2012 10:38 AM
To: '78-L Mail List'
Subject: Re: [78-L] Use of double bass in dance bands

I would suggest that it was probably the other way 'round. When Double Bass
replaced Brass Bass, the players - when allowed to improvise - would play 4
in the bar - particularly in 'hot' passages. This in turn led to the
transition to 4 in the bar becoming the norm - and helped herald in the
Swing era.
Tim Huskisson


"..A major reason for the shift to string bass in the 1920s was the
transition from two to four beat phrasing - it was difficult if not
impossible to consistently blow four beats to the bar on a tuba!"

Dave Weiner


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