If you play it and dance it's 'Le Cajun Twist'.

Hello everyone. Been a while. Had a sec so I had a go at the Dixie Rambler Special. I hope link works.

Wow.. Chris -- thanks. I see I was pretty close on for the B-part, but with the slowing down I see where I was doin' it wrong.

Woot... Hopefully soon, I'll be ready to post.

Thanks again for this, Chris.

John in Oregon

Wow! That is so great. thanks!

Tq

Thanks for your contribution, Chris.
As always, the rhythm and the drive you put in are pretty amazing, and all that without much effort, or so it seems.
The tune in itself doesn't seem all that complicated. It's just the way you (and Mr. Octa) play it that make it so special. I've noticed you don't need more than three buttons in the second part to keep it going. Great stuff again!

When I first heard this tune, I modified my version of Acadian Two-Step, and I thought I was home free. But, when I listened again it wasn't very close, and then I listened to Chris Miller's version and got a clearer picture.

The turn is the signature Octa Clark chug with the 1-5 bounces. It sounds simple but it's maddening to duplicate. His J'Etais au Bal turn is quite similar. He avoids the common, anticipated intervals to achieve that sing-song, chanky-chank effect.

Complicated stuff, this simple music.

Thanks for the kind words everyone. I think that everyone is correct that it is the subtle things and the rhythm that makes Octa's playing stand out. You can play the same notes he plays and still not capture the magic he does capture...a LOT of that is in the rhythm. A lot of the old-timers have this rhythmic feel. I don't notice it as much in the more 'modern' players. Kind of like the difference between Dewey Balfa fiddling and the more modern Cajun players...the more modern guys play more technically advanced things...but they don't have a lot of the rhythm and 'bluesy-ness' that Dewey had. its like fewer notes...but more unique rhythm and soul.I can't really explain it in words...its a very subtle and elusive thing.

Thanks for the response, Chris. This is exactly what I wanted to say, but it's not so easy for me to do so in English. IMHO you have just as much swing and soul as the Old Brigade: that kind of rocking rhythm that I always try to capture when I play Cajun music, because for me that's what it's all about. I always enjoy what you do. it goes straight into the heart!!

http://youtube.be/nv7NmbU2y91

Heres my stab at it if someone could please embed.
Got this here hohner- will be having it tuned.
Since going live have improved the turn, too late now though!

Error 404 Page not found.

Try this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nv7NmbU2y9I

Woot! AJ. That was great. Man.. I gotta get on off my butt and get this one done.

Thanks for posting that.

John in Oregon

AJ, that was great, and on the lowly Hohner that many here bad mouth.

The Hohner fits the character of the tune.

Fantastic, Good Job !!

Proof that great music can, and has been, be made on a Hohner.

Curious did you have it retuned to "just" tuning or simply push down the second "m" stop ?

Double checked.. I see all the stops are up and love the rubber bands.

I remove the stops and shafts.
Drill out the holes , insert maple dowels, redrill.

Also try a little violin bow rosin on the shafts if you want to get rid of the rubber bands.. might work.

Thanks for the kind words Hohner fan, your appreciation makes the effort all worth while.
Just bought this Hohner as a stop gap while I customise a Harmona/welty. Was getting frustrated not being able to play it while in pieces and have been too busy to get on and do a proper job.
Was a fortuitous last minute ebay uk purchase, the box turning up not far from the end of a mammoth drive to visit family living down south. A great bargain and an old one hardly played. Planning to have it cajun dry tuned but will be keeping it as it is while I practice and play the impending first gig of "The Riding Aces"- Cajun and Creole music with a splash of Yorkshire Relish!
I can get along with the spoons but my only reservation is the lightness of only having single frames which is really noticeable when I swap over to my Cajun modelled handmade D box. The HA114 does have a suprisingly powerful sound and I will be making the comparison when I get the modded Welty up and running- one of them might have to go!
Thanks also for the advice on the old classic design flaw with the stops. Its kinda sweet when you see clips of seasoned players with their boot laces holding the things up.

AJ,

A little tough to find on youtube, but,
see if you can find Bobby Gardiner of Ireland.

He plays two rows but is best known for 1 row Hohners.

His favorite, a knackered old HA114 in "G".
Worth the look. He is a fine player and a good guy. I have one of his later CD's.. I called him to order it and he autograohed it for me.

Also the famed Johnny Connolly plays one row.. I have 3 or four of his recordings.. most are with Hohner HA114 in C and D, and I believe a Cajun made box...

I just bought another HA114 form the early fifties, 100% original and in incredible condition. It is so original is has the cloth, not the leather bass strap. I am fitting it with a Hohner bass strap but will save the cloth one.
It has a wood keyboard with "horns" and the original combination of "H" and "T" reeds.

One day (unfortunately) folks will discover the magic of these boxes and the prices will soar.
Meantime I am enjoying mine and play them as much as my Castagnari.


Your playing is spot on and inspiring and honors the legacy of the box, the players, the tunes and the character of the music..

Thanks.

PS are you tuning your own boxes or having them done , and if so who will do it for you?

Must admit I already checked out some Bobby Gardiner clips on the tube- "Swallow Tails" I think it was that left an impression. To be honest I'd probably struggle to start taking on Irish tunes, the playing is so different and does'nt quite do it for me like Cajun music. Great to hear and watch though. "Pigeon on the gate" is another tune i'm fond of- curious title, do you know what it means? Might venture a little down that road one day.

Will be asking Theo Gibb of Newcastle to do the tuning.
Ironically I was going to have him fit hohner Ts into the Welty- no need now!

Having an old HA114 in such good nick does give me the satisfying feeling of holding a classic instrument, I'll make sure I don't mess this one up and apart from tuning and perhaps a more comfortable thumb strap- will keep it just as it is.

AJ,

Do you "hang" at melodeon net ?

I just got a PM from Theo a couple hours ago.
He will do a credible job of tuning.

You must also be aware of Rees Wesson down in Wales.
He also likes and plays Hohners and of course builds melodeons based on the lowly Hohner HA 114.

Press on

Nedro, great quotes, both from you and from Steve Riley, both applicable to me - but yours really cracks me up, and so true! BTW, you continue to amaze with your rapid development and ear. Keep up the good work, my friend. I wish you would make it up here occasionally, and I PROMISE you, we would jam!

Loved your playing, Chris!! School almost out?

Here I go! Recorded at my studio in Bathroom #2 at Club Ned. Acoustics are similar to Westminster Abbey, but scaled to a 5' x 9' room with sounds bouncing from tub to toilet - the latter being an appropriate destination.

Some much to like about your video, Brother Nedro, not the least of which is the commentary - priceless!

Cracking job Jumpsuit, you might be on the express train but its certainly all there. The humble Hohners had a good turn on this tune and I love it that you did the 2 vids, when you hear the richness of that Acadian though theres no comparison.
Perhaps Peer should dust down the old Hohner for this one!

I did a little test, AJ: timed myself playing in the truck (my most used studio, by far) and compared it to the videos - sure enough, I'm about 15 seconds slower on the song in the truck. That might not sound like much, but it is, in terms of overall tempo (Chris Miller's wonderful submission is about the same). I don't know what it is about the video camera that makes me speed up, but like Brother Nedro says, when the red light flashes, the race is on!

Ned!! Right on! Live, from Westminster bathroom de Ned. Man.. I've been trying to work on this and all this month has been just one thing after another that is taking me away from playing.

I need to win the bloody lottery and be a man of accordion playing leisure.

John in Oregon

I heard that, John! That's exactly how I feel!

Okay, gave it another shot. I wonder how many more I could do by the end of the month . . . Is it any better?

Steadier, and more on pace with the rest of the world! Good job.

Heres my lagniappe- april's SOTM
Apologies for the poor filming, appearance, location and out of tune reeds.
Hopefully the rest is OK.

Well done on both, AJ! You have a nice, swingy rhythm, and not too **** fast! And I like the Hohner . . ..

Thanks Jamie- just needs your vocals!
I'm enjoying my honeymoon with the Hohner she certainly is a jolie 'tit fille, nice and light and responsive, I could recommend them to anyone.

Keep on bro.

Okay, finally got a little rainy window to record this. I decided not to look at anyone else's beforehand, especially Chris' - might lose my nerve! I recorded it on a Mouton with Honer reeds first, then an Acadian with Binci's that I just bought from a good friend. The Mouton has pretty "bouncy" spring tension in the buttons, while the Acadian's is very soft. So I did two videos to double your pain - what I lack in rhythm, I'll try to make up for with novelty. And yeah, I know they're both too darn fast, but hey, that's one of the reasons for videoing, right? to figure out what needs shoring up?

Yup, definitely had too much coffee before recording this one . . . great song, though, and among my many favorites by Octa Clark. Wish I could do it more justice. I'm sprinting when I ought to be loping . . .

Me too! The red light signals the start of a race.

Steve Riley: "...simple music played by simple people on simple instruments...this music can be enjoyed at any tempo...if you can feel the music, you will find great pleasure playing it at any level." Sage advice.

Great job, Jamey. Personally,I prefer the first one on the Mouton, which seems to be a bit more solid.

I like the Mouton, too, Peer. It doesn't have the "punch" of the Bincis, but the Hohners have a "growl" that I like.

Well, to be honest, I meant your playing!
Youtube is great, but you always lose some subtleties in the sound, so it's sometimes hard to tell which accordion sounds better. For me anyway with my worn out ears. So I concentrate more on the playing than on the sound of the instrument.
BTW, according to my metronome Octa Clark's and Chris' versions are around 92 bpm, and yours around 104 (first) and 102(second! A lot faster than I can play, that's for sure.

Ha! That means I BEAT'EM! I win! Cuz 104 is like an A+ . . .

Err, that metronome definitely needs a recalibration. Maybe Jamey too.

I think the reason I was playing so fast in the first place is that I had just recalibrated . . .

I'll be already glad if I can manage 92 bpm. I'm doing my best, but I have to be careful with my ears. Every day I practice a short while. By now I'm able to play a pale copy of Chris' version, not really worth to make a video.
What I want is that peculiar rocking rhythm that both Octa Clark and Chris put in. A lot comes from an emphasis on the second beat, but that's not all. Very elusive indeed, and hard to capture!