Phil Emerson on the trumpet influence on steel guitar solos

Andy Volk · From: Boston, MA

"Food for Thought -- the Music of Steels"
by Phil Emerson of Phil's Guitars

A little known fact is that a lot of solos (and I mean whole solos!) played by western swing steel guitar players in the 1940's and 50's were, note for note, solos originally performed by cornet/trumpet players from the late 20's and early 30's; and they were the most profound influence, to this day, on swing and "hot" steel players. Many don't know this now, and many of the steel players themselves didn't know this. Here's the story...

Bix Biederbecke was one of the greatest cornet players of all time and along with Louis Armstrong "invented" the jazz solo. At least, the "modern jazz solo thing" really started with them. His "Singin' the Blues" solo is a masterpiece of invention, tone (forever), and just blew everyone's mind. (He still has a cult following to this day). Anyway, one of the greatest Hawaiian steel players, (the greatest to me), was Sol Hoopii (pronounced "Ho-oh-Pee-ee"). Hoopii was a classic example of the "natural sophisticated musical instincts" so many Hawaiians possess. I've known many Hawaiians who are deep, deep, sophisticated, knowledgeable musicians, and seem to be born with this ability. Hoopii heard Bix, and that sent him to another level on steel guitar. He actually played Bix's "Singin' the Blues" and played Bix's cornet solo note for note on a Tricone steel guitar. Just amazing to hear. Many other Biederbeike and Armstrong solos influenced Hoopii's playing. Hoopii himself actually became world famous. Naturally, steel players were influenced by him and learned his solos note for note, then made their own styles out of their various influences.

The Biederbecke/Armstrong influence is heard everywhere in old swing steel solos. And by the time two or three generations had passed, many players didn't realize exactly where these "hot" and melodic licks came from. To some people, these were "Herb Remington" licks, or "Jerry Byrd" licks. But if you were to ask Herb or Jerry about it, they would rave about people like Hoopii and the horn soloists who influenced them all in the late '20's to early '30's. Find an early recording of "St. Louis Blues" by Armstrong, and memorize (or at least become familiar with) the trumpet solo he plays, and listen to steel guitar solos, and you will, in no time at all, start hearing phrases and licks that sound very familiar. And it sounds GREAT! It's one of those rare instances in which it translates to a steel guitar perfectly and becomes its own wonderful emotive sound. The slurs, pops, and dynamics of cornet/trumpet translate perfectly to steel guitar's slurs, swells, and dynamics.

So, from Bix, to Hoopii, to Remington, to Jr.Brown, all great players, doing their own unique interpretations of timeless pure music...And I'm still not tired of hearing some recent player knocking out a "Bix" riff on the steel guitar, and still really get their attention after they say "Bix who?" And off they go, into that wonderful world of hot solos/ wonderful melodies and solos of the 1920s and '30s. Get the CDs Vol.1 Vol.2 of Sol Hoopii's, "King of the Steel Guitars" on Rounder Records, to hear what I'm talking about. It's amazing to hear, and really puts it all into chronological perspective.

My brother, Ken Emerson, was hip to this from the very beginning of his learning to play the steel guitar. Ken really understands how it makes a simple tune sound profound, without having to overplay or get too busy in order to make the point, while playing his solo during the tune. Listen to Ken's solo on the Hula Cat's CD, "SWINGIN' IN PARADISE," (at the KOKOMO STORE) during the song "Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me." You hear a lot of later Sol Hoopii (from his electric steel guitar days), and a lot of Andy Iona technique applied. Andy Iona's sound was to let the steel bar sit on the wound strings and without picking the strings, would cause a "drone" chord caused by the slide bar moving slightly vibrato-like over the strings, almost an organ like sound...very pretty.

Yet, Ken's notes during solo are widely dispersed and very far apart, not clusters of notes close together, so that he's really taking chances during his solo. And this was recorded live in front of an audience! I love it! It's called the "running in the dark as fast as you can" approach to spontaneous/ improvisational guitar playing, and is my favorite solo on the CD. But they're all wonderful so... Buy it!!

Billy Tonnesen · From: R.I.P., Buena Park, California

In listening to many of the old Hawaiian players, especially Sol Hoopi, I could hear where Joaquin Murphy, IMHO, came up with much of his single string phrasing and attack.

Benjamin Franz · From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

When I listen to Joaquin, I feel like I'm listening to Benny Goodman on a stringed instrument.

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

I've always said Joaquin's takeoff's were coming straight from clarinetland and he's been quoted as saying his influences were the jazzers he grew up hearing.

Kenny www.myspace.com/kenemerson sold me my first steel, National 6, in the early 80s and bro Phil sold me my 2nd, a Fender Champion, a few years later.

John Ed Kelly · From: Victoria, Australia

Whilst I'm relatively new to SG, I have been a clarinet player for 40 years, so that experience has influenced my approach to steel.

I have been researching Bob Dunn's playing and he seems to be entirely unique in his jazz approach to the instrument. As a clarinet player, I have always preferred the older style players, most of whom originated in New Orleans.

I have yet to acquire his extensive recordings with Milton Brown to do a full appreciation of his playing, but, as an example, his version of ''When You're Smiling'', with the Cliff Bruner band is outstanding.

For my money, his style is preferred as a model of outstanding jazz playing.

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

Dunn was a trombone player and his steel work reflected that influence.

Mike Neer · From: NJ

Jazz musicians were the only ones doing any kind of improvising in the 20s and 30s, before Western Swing players picked up on it, so who else would they be copying? Bix, Louis Armstrong and Jack Teagarden were pretty much the premier improvisers of the 20s--at least on recordings, anyway. Many (but, of course, not all) other soloists in the 20s were playing composed solos and not improvising at all.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links

Dom Franco · From: Beaverton, OR, 97007

Sometimes when listening to the old recordings of the Big Bands, the clarinet sections sound just like a steel guitar playing chords in C6 tuning.

Also trombone slides sometimes sound like a steel to me.

I play dozens of 1930's and 40's swing era songs on my steel, and they fit perfectly in a sixth tuning.

Dom Franco
_________________
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYG9cvwCPKuXpGofziPNieA/feed?activity_view=3

Aled Rhys Jones · From: Berkeley, CA

Interesting take. I'm a trumpet player, never really thought about a connection between trumpet and steel guitar before apart from in the context of big band-sounding stabs with a 6th tuning.

It may be worth noting that the overtone series of a trumpet - from open low C, CGCEG(Bb)C - bears some resemblance to the major 3rds and 5ths in the majority of steel guitar tunings. How relevant this is to a connection between steel and brass I really couldn't say though. Smile

Mark Roeder · From: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

Thanks for the suggestion Andy. Great food for thought, I just bought Bix Biederbecke Vol 1 off itunes. I'm listening to it as I am typing. I can hear steel as the instrument on many of the solos.
_________________
www.deluxe34.com lap steel stands, Clinesmith, Gibson Console Grande, Northwesterns, The Best Westerns
https://www.facebook.com/TheBestWesterns

Bill McCloskey · Posted 1 Mar 2010 4:08 pm

So I guess the last two years I spent studying cornet and the solos of Bix and Louis have not been wasted. Smile

Forum Index > Steel Without Pedals		Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic

All times are GMT - 8 Hours	Jump to: