The Amazing Kransky Sisters (from Australia)

[David Richoux]

Maybe the strangest act to use a tuba in quite some time!
http://www.thekranskysisters.com/ be sure to watch the Youtube links on their site.

Kind of like The Shaggs meets The Addams Family with coaching from Weird Al... then add the tuba!

[Tuba-G Bass]

Wow, Thanks Dave, these gals are funny!
Instant Fan!

[kegmcnabb]

Wow! That may be my favorite version of "Psycho Killer" ever!

[David Richoux]

Even better than The Bobs? (a sample clip)

I tend to agree with you, maybe because it has a tuba in it...

[kegmcnabb]

Yeah, I think I like it slightly better than the Bobs, although I really like their version. Saw them open for Zappa in LA one night and Psycho Killer was part of the set. The Bobs and Frank Zappa. Now that was a great show!

[jamsav]

Wow- that's funny stuff ( I hope ) . Perhaps the scariest music act since Tiny Tim !!

[David Richoux]

Yeah, I think I like it slightly better than the Bobs, although I really like their version. Saw them open for Zappa in LA one night and Psycho Killer was part of the set. The Bobs and Frank Zappa. Now that was a great show!

Y'know - I have been a Zappa fanatic since about 1967 - have most of his recordings, been to a lot of shows, did several radio specials on him - I have not found any significant living connection between Zappa and ANY tuba player (other than some annon. LSO blowers - 200 Motels and LSO Vol 1 & 2, Tom Malone on Tuba/Saxes/Piccolo Trumpet/Trumpet in the "Petite Wazoo" released much later as "Imaginary Diseases;" and Daryl Smith was in Ensemble Modern at the time of the Yellow Shark recordings.)

Sure, there are later recordings of Zappa music done by several prominent tubists (some on this forum) but "Tuba Zappa" is almost a Google Whack! It seem surprising, considering the variety of musical compositions Zappa did...

I am going to repost this as a new thread.

[ken k]

have to admilt, Dawn lays down a pretty mean bass line....
funny stuff!, and actually pretty good performance.
k

[David Richoux]

have to admit, Dawn lays down a pretty mean bass line....
funny stuff!, and actually pretty good performance.
k

The missing sister Arva (shown on a few clips) plays a bit better, I think. She has a BBb horn if I am not mistaken, where Dawn has an Eb, I am pretty sure. They are both great, if you know how hard it is to play while suppressing a giggle!

I have not been able to identify either horn.

I just found this early bio:

Michele Watt (Arva Kransky) studied classical tuba at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music (Griffith University,) has performed in major roles in theatre and her touring experience includes travelling as the trusty tuba sidekick to Madame Lark, as part of Adelaide's Come Out Festival for children and New Zealand's Capital E Festival.

but at this point I cannot find any "real" biographical info on Carolyn Johns (Dawn.) Maybe once their fame spreads beyond Oz and the Southern Hemisphere a bit more we will know. They have played the Edinburgh Fringe several times, but that sure did not lead to greater world notice!

BTW, The Kransky is a type of meat sausage. It is the Australasian version of the authentic North Slovenian (Upper Carniolan) dish - the kranjska klobasa.

[imperialbari]

Doesn’t dawn play a silver plated Besson 983 at least in Education?

In Overload it looks like a lacquered 983.

Klaus

[cambrook]

I haven't looked closely at the clips to comment on the instruments, but Carolyn Johns was the former tuba player with the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra - based in the Sydney Opera House.

Her site is here: http://www.cazzbo.com/

[imperialbari]

Thanks for the link!

http://cazzbo.blogspot.com/2009/05/instruments.html

rather tells the Eb tuba to be a Willson 3400S.

Klaus

[tokuno]

I think she uses the Yamaha Eb for this role.
Here's my favorite:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=By1SmF5bvno

The devilish trickery of fire twirling . . . dry bushes

And the toilet brush has me rolling.

Thanks for the link!

http://cazzbo.blogspot.com/2009/05/instruments.html

rather tells the Eb tuba to be a Willson 3400S.

Klaus

[David Richoux]

Following that blog - Carolyn Johns also currently plays tuba and jug with Mic Conway's National Junk (jug) Band - they have several CDs and a DVD - the sound clips are great!

BTW, Mic Conway was also the leader of The Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band - I played many tracks from their 1972 recording "Smoke Dreams" on my radio show.

[imperialbari]

Following that blog - Carolyn Johns also currently plays tuba and jug with Mic Conway's National Junk (jug) Band - they have several CDs and a DVD - the sound clips are great!

That band has a Strohviol:



That is something acceptable to tubists!

As for the tuba played by Ms. Johns: various clips will show the Yamaha or the Willson.

Klaus

[Bob Kolada]

Born to be wild (at least, haven't seen all their clips), has a Yamaha 321 Eb.

[David Richoux]

Following that blog - Carolyn Johns also currently plays tuba and jug with Mic Conway's National Junk (jug) Band - they have several CDs and a DVD - the sound clips are great!

That band has a Strohviol:





Klaus

Those are cool - we have a Stroh Violin player in our marching band. I think I saw a picture of a Stroh Contrabass sometime (can't find it now ) but how about a Stroh Cello?

[tbn.al]

Real nice sousaphone licks on "Drive My Car".

http://www.nationaljunkband.com/junkband.html" target="_blank

[David Richoux]

There is a lot of National Junk, Captain Matchbox and related stuff on Youtuba:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_q ... type=&aq=f
Wangaratta Wahini features some fine Sousaphone! (It is a Matchbox tune, revisited.)