Now and then, we are treated to the sounds of unconventional instruments.  Most of us have heard the ‘Kazoo’ during renditions by certain bands.  (Of course, Old Erastus played one didn’t he)?  Then whenever the Stackyard Stompers or the Frog Island Jazz band appear at the Bay, we hope that the ‘Swanee Whistle’, will be uncased for a performance of Sobbin’ Blues or some such, they being true New Orleans purveyors!  And how we celebrate when we hear this strange but pleasant instrument sliding through the melody!

It isn’t too unusual either to see the ‘Tambourine’ or the ‘Washboard ‘being used to enhance the rhythm section.  James Diebell of the Washboard Syncopators has a ‘Washboard’ ‘permanently’ fitted to his drum kit - and how well he plays it too!  We mustn’t mention the ‘Washboard’ OR the ‘Tambourine’ without noting another of our regular visitors, Len Hodgson the great Trombonist with the Eastside Stompers who beats out a fair rhythm on his. It is more uncommon though for the ‘Slapstick’ to be seen and beaten, as it should be, on the off-beat in bands today.  This ‘instrument’, originally made from two halves of ‘split’ cane, but nowadays usually from two pieces of flat laths, enriches the percussion section, especially in Frisco based numbers, by whacking it against the side of the leg to produce a sharp clapping sound.  

Years ago, back in the very early days of jazz, and probably due to the low, if any, incomes of the early jazz pioneers, the ‘Gut Bucket’ ‘stood in’ as a substitute for the double bass.  This comprised a janitor’s mop-bucket complete with mop in its ‘squeezing-bowl’ with a length of catgut stretching from a nail at the top of the mop’s handle, down and tied to, the side of the bucket’.  As the mop handle was moved backwards and forwards whilst being plucked, different notes would be produced, emulating the sound of a bass with one string.  This was the ‘Gut Bucket’.

There is a history in jazz of many interesting implements being used to produce great jazzy sounds.  The ‘Jug’, usually a stoneware liquor container, and the ‘Musical Saw’ feature in several bands - past and present.

BUT NOT MANY PEOPLE, AND THIS INCLUDES MUSICIANS, HAVE EVER HEARD OF A GOOFUS!  COME TO THAT, HOW MANY HAVE EVER HEARD OF A COUESNOPHONE?

Well the picture on the right is a Couesnophone - well almost!  As far as can be determined, it would be, if fitted with a length of hosepipe for ‘blowing through’ purposes.

It all began when the great bass saxophonist Adrian Rollini (right), invented the ‘Goofus’ during the ‘roaring’ twenties  (He was a bass sax player with the famous ‘Bix and His Gang).

The Goofus was a piece of brass tubing, stopped-up at one end and tapered down at the other. The thin end was the mouthpiece end, and a series of keys were fitted along its length.  The musical notes came from a line of reeds which produced a ‘Harmonica’ or a ‘Melodica’ type of sound.  It was said to be capable of a range of over two octaves.  (The Melodica is reckoned to be the direct descendant of the Goofus).

A French company called Couesnon, marketed the Goofus but changed its appearance and slightly altered the method of playing.  They mutated the tapered pipe shape by adding a ‘redundant’ bell at the stopped-off end to produce the ‘saxophone - like’ instrument you now see here.

Whereas the Goofus was played like a flute, Couesnon added a piece of rubber pipe so that the instrument could be laid flat on the lap and played like a keyboard whilst puffing like billy’o through the rubber tubing . They thence marketed it as a Couesnophone.

Another of Adrian Rollini’s inventions was ‘The Red Hot Fountain Pen’.  This is described as a minute pocket clarinet but it is more likely to have been a small whistle made from ebony or ebonite.  We have scoured the Internet but have not yet found an example of this instrument.  We did find an instrument purporting to be a ‘Red Hot Fountain Pen’ but it was far too large so to be. (During the fifties, I saw one being demonstrated and played during a transmission of BBC Jazz Club and believe me, it was the size of a fountain pen). - but we will keep on searching until we find a picture to post.  Until then, we will reserve space for it!

If you click on the accompanying photo of Adrian Rollini, it will take you to his entry in the Red Hot jazz site where you can read more about him and his history as well as being able to listen to some of his great recorded music.  (In his tribute there, you will be able to link into Bix and His Gang to hear some of his early stuff with Bix himself - oh what joy)!