The Richmond Assault : A Short History Of Barber-Musicians And Their Role In The Development Of Brush-Playing

'The Richmond Assault' was a turn of phrase used to describe the practice of being brushed-down in rhythm by African American barbers in 19th century Richmond, Virginia. To a unsuspecting customer, the sensation of being slapped on the back by a barber's 'whisk-broom' felt like a physical assault; and the lesson in syncopation that followed - the customer serving as a convenient 'drum' - was for some, nothing more than an auditory assault. This book not only chronicles the development of this early form of brush-playing, but also puts its birth in context by exploring the wider musical tradition within barbering; a tradition that owes as much to world religion and medicine, as it does to musical heritage.

• | Author: Gerry Paton
• | Publisher: Independently Published
• | Publication Date: Nov 09, 2018
• | Number of Pages: 302 pages
• | Language: English
• | Binding: Paperback
• | ISBN-10: 1730807097
• | ISBN-13: 9781730807091