For "Snowing And Raining", both Alec Seward and Louis Hayes were playing out of A position in standard tuning. Slim starts out stating his problem, and Jelly offers no sympathy, as per usual. They worked so well this way, and they continue to alternate verses once they start singing. Most of their cuts are pretty short, and they remind me of episodes of "The Beverly Hillbillies" in that they don't so much end, as they do stop - JohnM, Guitar Slim & Jelly Belly lyrics thread
Also, Bobby Leecan and Robert Cooksey seemed to be in the New York City/New Jersey/Philadelphia area a lot just a year before and might still have been around.
I swear... BEFORE seeing this, and when I first saw the clip... that the harp playing reminded me of Robert Cooksey's playing... mebbe just the 1st position...
OK then, in view of the lack of evidence to the contrary, the admittedly difficult but not impossible to decipher matchup of complexion and bridge of nose construction, his presence in the area at the time, and his ability to produce the kind of clear single string vibrato laden sound that pokes its head through the dinn on occasion, I am declaring this to be the only extant film of Curley Weaver, which would most likely make the harp player Eddie Mapp. Dispute me with reasoned argument if you can. And Slack I demand a Hanukkah Harry Emoticon!
Logged
My loathings are simple: stupidity, oppression, crime, cruelty, soft music. Vladimir Nabokov (1899 - 1977)
Blues and Gospel Records lists some of the band members, a few of whom were semi-regulars on Bessie Smith recordings. Given that, it would seem even more possible to me that the guitarist would be drawn from that circle. For what it's worth, B&GR lists the "musical fragments" as unknown guitar and unknown harmonica. It also has the following: "It has been alleged that the following are also present on this soundtrack: Sidney DeParis, t; Bernard Addison, g."
If the company or entity that made the film (and perhaps others like it) kept records, and if those records are still extant, and if they could be located, they might provide some leads. If it was necessary to belong to a guild or union if one were to appear in a film at the time and if those records are still extant, they might provide some leads as well.
Obviously, it's a long shot, but it's not impossible.
Well Joe Bellulovich says if Frankie thinks its Cooksey on harp then it probably is. That makes the guitarist likely to be either Leecan or Albert Martin.
Logged
My loathings are simple: stupidity, oppression, crime, cruelty, soft music. Vladimir Nabokov (1899 - 1977)
Male blues guitar players with recognizable names who recorded in and around New York City in June of 1929 include Lonnie Johnson, Joe McCoy, Little Hat Jones (in town with Texas Alexander), and the group of Georgia musicians who came up to Long Island City to record for QRS: Curley Weaver, Eddie Mapp, Guy Lumpkin, and James Moore. Also, Bobby Leecan and Robert Cooksey seemed to be in the New York City/New Jersey/Philadelphia area a lot just a year before and might still have been around.
dj, I have to ask, how on earth did you pull that data together?