Christmas Music - Bills Christmas top 5 Songs and Tunes

And so this is Christmas!   Another one rolls around and all the hoopla begins - earlier than ever it seems.   The advertising and assault on the senses to get you to buy more stuff is more relentless than I ever remember.   If it wasn't for all that good Christmas Music I would lose it.

But the day can't come till I hear my Christmas top 5 songs - some classic, some obscure, some variations or new versions - but all favorites that I especially enjoy this time of year.  Check em out if you get a chance before the season slips by.




Number 1 -  "Merry Christmas -War is Over"  Plastic Ono Band.   This song has come a long way from being a protest piece in it's day to being played alongside Bing Crosby.   It has an anthem like quality that makes you want sing along till the end.  Plus, the line "And so this is Christmas"" is Lennon at his sarcastic best.   The chorus vocals include the Harlem Community Choir - a real nice Christmas gesture by John.

Number 2 - "Merry Christmas From the Family"  Robert Earl Keen.    If your family is anything like mine, you will enjoy this one.  Keen captures the feeling of a family Christmas gathering similar too the way National Lampoons Christmas Vacation does - the song almost sounds like it belongs in that movie!     

He also recognizes the diversity that exists in today's society with some of his clever lyrics.   And is there a better opening line than "Mom got drunk, dad got drunk, at our Christmas party"?

Number 3 - "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" - Butch Baldasari.   When I first heard this track - one the weather channel no less - I was hooked.   This tune was made for the mandolin.   I tracked down the CD and have been playing along since I found it.  The arrangement of the tune is cool and the ringing crosspicking and dual descending melody notes make for a refreshing version of an old, old, standard - that I used to hate!!

Number 4 - "Zat You Santa Claus" - Louis Armstrong.    I first heard the Buster Poindexter version on MTV and was hooked on this one, not knowing it was a Louis Armstrong recorded in the 50's when Louis did several Christmas CD's for Decca Records I love the part where he sings Please, a-please, a pity my knees and the big ending after some more knocking from the drums - "that's him alright"!   Is anyone cooler than Louis?  



Number 5 - "White Christmas "  John Fahey - from the classic fingerpicking album "John Fahey's Christmas Guitar".   When a master takes on a classic, the results usually are pretty good.  Here they are great.  Fahey takes some neat twists and turns on the standard and it sounds like it was made for fingerpicking guitar, but try to do it!!   Actually, like Evergreen - I like em all on this CD and it's a christmas staple in my Christmas CD rotation.



Well those are my favorites - love to hear your's!  Merry Christmas.

The Happy Valley Fiddlers Convention

Been a while since I've written and a lot of things have passed.   More to come on that.  

Just back in town from one of the most enjoyable weekends Claire and I have  spent in a while - at the "Happy Valley Fiddlers Convention" in Lenoir NC.   This festival is the most enjoyable and well run I've attended ever.   The format is unique - especially to us Northerners.   Most of the festival is competitions for individual instruments and bands Friday and Saturday -followed by a lineup of great performances on Sunday.  These folks have the right idea - bring a lot of musicians together and let them play!!!



Onstage at Happy Valley

We (The Flophouse String Band and our roadie Claire ) went down there to compete in the band competition, but really to see a lot of friends too and enjoy the music.   The FSB gets together once a year, which is not enough, and Happy Valley was this years gig.  There are a lot of good friends in and around Lenoir - Conrad, Alex and Anne Bernhardt, Pat and Kay Crouch, Ron and Laura Shuffler - who we always look forward to visiting.   And when at Happy Valley you are sure to make a few new friends, which we all did. 

We arrived Friday and got together at Conrads place to practice our set.   In the contest you are only allowed two numbers, so we went with our favorites (or at least mine).   It took no time at all to get re-acquainted musically.   After some practice and jamming we went down to the festival.

Conrad -this may get you into heaven

This is really one festival that you want to attend - only about 450 people, a great location, good music, and a mix of people young and old.   One of the first things that stood out Saturday was the children's performance.  Conrad and a few other musicians put together a group of kids who never played an instrument, and in 30 days had them on the stage performing a few numbers.   

I caught a lot of the contests Saturday as well - the level of musicianship down in this part of the country is unbelievable!   Every act sounded like a first prize winner.   Over 100 musicians competed in the individual and band competitions, and it was worth listening to all.  

We were part of the Bluegrass Band competition and went on next to last.   Gave us plenty of time to mill around behind the stage and meet other musicians (one of my favorite pastimes).   I met quite a few who share my passion for Gibson Guitars and Mandolins and saw some pretty neat vintage instruments.  A lot of hardware!   Listening to the other bands in front of us also gave me a lot of confidence - they were good but so were we!



Showtime - the FSB in full gear - Becky, Me, Wayne, and Susan

 We went on and did our two numbers - the performance was as good as we have ever given - Susan, Wayne, and Becky were all right there. 

Me and Wayne

I felt like I was too, and most of all it was FUN!!!    The crowd gave us a big hand so I knew we had nailed it.   Two songs goes fast and it was over quickly.   We got a lot of compliments backstage from some pretty talented people and now had to wait to see if we would make the finals.   Well we did not - but either way we were pretty happy  - the competition was good but so were we and someone had to be cut.

In a way it turned out to be the best thing that could have happened.   Michael Cleveland (9 time IBMA Fiddle player of the year) showed up at Alex's campsite, along with Uwe and Jens Krueger, Patrick Crouch, and Ron Shuffler for a jam session.   5 world class musicians!!!   We would have missed it had we made the next round.   The jam lasted almost three hours, and these folks know how to play with each other.  


The saturday night jam with the Kruger Brothers, Patrick Crouch, Michael Cleveland, Ron Shuffler and many more!

Standards like Sally Goodin lasted 15 minutes as they traded licks - each time a little better, and you did not want it to end.  I had a seat right next to Michael, and it was a joy to have his fiddle in my ear.   And there may have been 20 people there to listen to a session that could have commanded a top dollar! 

After that we went down to the performance tent to listen to the same folks again.   Great music - the jam was just the warmup!!!   We went to bed that night with a lot of music in our ears.



Strictly Clean and Decent with Mike Cleveland

Reggie Harris and Mike

Sunday - the last day - was all about performance's - we say our good friends "Strictly Clean and Decent" - Patrick and Kay Crouch, and Ron Shuffler put on an excellent set, followed by The Harris Brothers, Wayne Henderson and the Herb Key  Band, Laura Boosinger, and finally Michael Clevelands group.  Michael sat in with most of the groups. 
Even though a super talent he played as member of the band each time till it was his turn to headline.  And he did.   If there is a better fiddler in Bluegrass I have not heard them.   He attacks the fiddle with a passion unchained by any conventions.   You can tell he listens to a lot of music as his breaks are not standard bluegrass licks - he brings in stuff from all genres.  

Ron and Mike

One of the best numbers of his set was a piece he played on an 8 string fiddle - it sounded like three fiddles playing at once - and it was as clear as a bell  ringing!   I cant wait to see (and hear) him again!!!

The vibe was great and many of the folks sang along or got up and danced.

Alex and Anne enjoying a waltz

   When a massive thunderstorm broke out and power went off Laura Boosinger lead the audience in an acapella rendition of "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" - one of the weekends highlights!!

Josh samling the pierogis

Me, Becky, Claire, and Wayne

After the concerts we headed back to camp for some food and goodbyes.   Patrick and Kay put on a nice spread and we hung around and watched the festival move on.   I never thought Pierogis and Indian Curry would be a food pairing but it was excellent.     We had a few photo ops and then it was time to say goodbye. Hard to do after such an amazing weekend.

The really amazing part of this is that the festival only charges an admission of $10 per person on saturday - friday and sunday are free ( and up in the great white north sundays show could have easily fetched $40)  They raise money from sponsors and from free will offerings, and a lot of volunteer elbow grease.   One of the nicest things to see at the end of the day on sunday is how most of the folks in attendance pitch in and help pick up the chair and debris!  

This will be an annual event on our calender - a long way from Rome but well worth the trip!!!

Playing on the Big Stage

One of the true joys of playing music is performing for an appreciative audience.   Over my short musical career I've enjoyed playing for all types of audiences, including those gigs where the music is just wallpaper for whatever event happens to be going on.    By far the most fun is when the crowd is actively involved.  

It happens a lot in smaller settings like coffeehouses, libraries, and house concerts where the folks are coming there just to listen.   But many other venues don't give a musician that type of feedback, and you tend to play for your own enjoyment.

Becky, Susan, me, Wayne - the Flophouse String Band

Last week, my good friends in the Flophouse String Band came to town to open for Rhonda Vincent at the Capitol Theater in Rome.    By far, our biggest gig ever, and a privilege to open for such a talented group.   The big stage!!!!    A great venue, a large crowd coming to listen, and the pressure to play well for the folks coming on  next.   All the things you hope for in a gig rolled into one incredible half hour.  

The Capitol is an old 20's moviehouse that has recently been undergoing restoration and now a lively and active community center for movies and the performing arts.   The director, Art Pierce, and his team have brought in a wide variety of local, regional, and National Acts as well as some pretty cool flicks.   The building is a perfect setting for a concert, with the original silent movie organ built in, it was made for sound.    It's become one of the best stages in the region to play.

The Flophouse String Band has been together since 2006, and we enjoy playing a gig every year.    The Band got together to play the Mohawk Valley Bluegrass Association Festival that year, and has been going since.   We've had a lot of fun and also some great experiences like recording our CD, release in 2010.   But we've never played a big stage.    The band consists of Becky and Wayne Kelly from Hattiesburg MS, and Susan Donohue from New Jersey respectively on Appalachian Dulcimer, Guitar and Mandolin and Fiddle.    I play a bit of mandolin and Guitar and we all help out with vocals.   The stuff we play is American Roots - Cajun, Old Time, Celtic,  and Country Blues, along with a few more modern songs in the genres.   Good stuff and a lot of fun to play.

Practicing for the show was fun, but it did carry a bit of an edge.   We knew we would all have to be at our best to show well.    And we did put in a lot of good practice hours honing the 6 songs and tunes we would play on stage.   My goal, when I hit that stage, was not to be thinking about what I was playing, but to be totally in the moment and to put out my best performance.   After 2 1/2 days of it I think we were ready to roll.

Leading up, and perhaps adding to the pressure, were the promos in the newspaper highlighting our group, and the countdown as we got closer to the show.   Now all the little things started to get bigger - what to wear, what to say, what if a string breaks, etc.   I usually don't get too anxious before a show but was feeling it for this one.

The day of the show went so fast it was a blur - I know we practiced, went for a walk to get some air, and maybe ate some food - but the minds were focused on what was coming.   Sound check at 4PM - performance at 7:30.    We got there in plenty of time for the sound check, and the volunteers from the Capitol, Ed and Ray were great.   We also have to thank Rhonda for letting us use her equipment, which was great.   As soon as we played our first song through the system into the empty theater I knew we would be fine - the band sounded great, and the sound team and system made it doubly so.   It felt really good to be up on that stage and playing music.   After a quick run through of our set, it was time to relax and get ready to for the show.

Can't say I really relaxed though, and I don't think the rest of the band was.   It was more like anticipation building and building.   It felt pretty good actually knowing what was coming.    We went out for a quick bite with our roadie, Miss Claire (my lovely bride), and got back to the theater to get ready to go on.  

Milling around backstage before a show is big fun - noodlin on the instruments, run through of the set,  tuning, talking to the folks - all the while knowing the clock is ticking.    A few minutes before goin on you get up in the wings and the emcee goes out to introduce you (the great Bill Knowlton) and its a blur as you walk out.

We knew our spots, but its different when the room is alive with people - you feel it!   The lights are blinding, but you can make out the shapes of people in the first few rows, and now it's time to deliver the first song as you settle into the stage.   It felt really good delivering it, the band was tight, but you don't know until you stop how it's going to be received.    Then the applause hits you like a wave and any anxiety that was left disappears.   The tightness goes away.    The hands move easily around the neck of the guitar.    Hey, this is fun!!!!

The set was short, and was over before we knew it.   Got a lot of nice applause, and it was cool to have Rhonda's Band in the wings telling us how they enjoyed our set and naming some of the stuff they liked.    Talk about feeling and being alive and in the moment - this is it - it doesn't get an better than this.

We then got to watch Rhonda and her band perform - what pro's - you know there is still another level or two or three to get where they are musically, but that's cool.   I may never get there, but at least I know we can stand up and deliver on the big stage when the time comes.  

And to put a cap on  a great evening we got to spend some time with Rhonda and her band - I guess it can always get a little better......

A Bluegrass History Tour

Kelly and me

One of the things I really enjoy about playing music is the opportunity to do musical projects - one time shows, gigs - that focus on a specific topic or type of music.   My Daughter Kelly and I have done a show on the Carter Family - me doing a talk on the history and importance of the Carters to American Music, and Kelly doing the singing of some of the classic songs and tunes from the Carters to accompany the talk - in the style of the Carters.   Plus, we would add songs from more contemporary singer songwriters to illustrate the influence the Carters hold on today's music. 

What is enjoyable to me is combining the things I love - history, music, and performance into one - generally for just one or two shows.   It gets me to read and research topics I would not normally dig deeply into, and it also introduces new songs and tunes (and musical styles) into my bag of tricks.    And you tend to meet and make new friends along the way.

The Christmas Carol Band


Over the past few years I've been involved in  setting up the music for things like a reading of Dickens Christmas Carol, a reading on the Alcott's, the early History of Orville Gibson and his contributions, and an O Henry Christmas story.    Each project involved learning new stuff musically.   Plus I've worked with some really good musicians on the projects and they all have contributed and added to the output - folks like Mike Hoke, Mike Carroll, Conrad, Skip Mansur, and Bruce Wightman.  

Flophouse String Band

Last week I had the good fortune to work on another project that was pretty close to home - a lecture demonstration on the musical styles that influenced the development of Bluegrass Music.   What made the project really neat was that the Flophouse String Band (FSB)- Wayne and Becky Kelly, Susan Donohue, and yours truly was together for a gig the next night opening for Rhonda Vincent at the Capitol Theater (more on that in another blog).    The FSB plays a very eclectic style of mostly American Roots music from the early 1900's to today's Americana - encompassing Old Time, Cajun, Blues, and Early Country.    We were pretty well setup to do the musical demo.

Becky, Susan, Lydia

Lydia Hammessley, a professor of Musicology at Hamilton, was doing the talk, and she had laid out a basic outline of what she wanted to demonstrate, and from there we developed a list of tunes to illustrate her talking points.   We also needed a Bluegrass Banjo player and were lucky enough to have Phil Husted, one of the best around these parts join us on banjo and dobro.   Lydia also plays a mean Clawhammer banjo, which was a perfect addition to the group.   A bonus to all this was that we would also be doing in before the Seldom Scene played their concert at Hamilton!  (how does a weekend get any better).



Phil and Bill

One of the things that happens on projects like these is that when you get six musicians together in a room, the ideas start to flow.  And they have a lot of fun playing music.   It usually means something good will happen.   As with all projects the collaboration added a few new wrinkles, tunes, and arrangements, and voila!   And I think it helped Lydia further develop her talking points around the music we were playing - playing always fires up my creative juices.  We had a great set list that included an overture suggested by Phil where we opened with Old Joe Clark in an Old Time Style and finished with Bluegrass and Chromatic Banjo.   We played a while after we had finished our project set list and really didn't want to stop.  Funny how often that happens playing good music with good musicians.


Lydia's lecture wove a lot of different musical threads to come together at the end at Bluegrass and she did it in a very effective manner - and as much as I know and take for granted about Bluegrass I learned a few things!   It was pretty clear that the audience enjoyed Lydia's talk (I think people really welcome and apprecatie this approach) and the music we put to it - OT, Appalachian, Celtic, Carter Family and Blues -- all in the musical stew that is today's Bluegrass.   Can't wait for my next project......

Moving On - Thanks for the Memories MVBGA

For the past eight or nine years (amazing how fast we lose track of time) I've had the privilege and fun of volunteering as a director for the Mohawk Valley Bluegrass Association.    Yesterday I decided it was time to move on and leave the Board - with the mixed feelings of leaving old friends behind, yet looking forward to new challenges.   Along the way there was sure a lot of fun

I've been thinking about  this for some time now.    While I have enjoyed the friendships and many good times with the MVBGA,  it seems to me that the organization itself has reached a point where the direction it is going in is not one that I think is in it's best interests.   Put simply, the group is getting older, and we don't do anything to attract or make it easier for young people to get involved.     Not sure that I have the answer, but having been to other areas of the country and seen the active involvement of younger folks in traditional music, it seems we are missing the boat up here.

There are also times you reach in your life where you realize you have to let go of some of the relationships and commitments you make in order to give the proper time and energy to the things most important in your own life - family, friends, career, and your own musical interests.    That came home to me over the past few weeks as new opportunities for pursing some long term career interests and some new musical opportunities have come a knockin at my door.

Looking back it's clear that the MVBGA has done a great job of keeping Bluegrass on the local radar and brought together a lot of the people who play the music and keep the flame alive locally.    Working for the past years with the directors and officers has been fun, and personally has helped me learn a lot in my efforts to help the group.  I've really enjoyed writing the press releases, helping raise money, and promote the MVBGA and along the way made new friends in all those areas.

So it was a blessing and opportunity when at this years election two very good candidates stepped forward to seek board seats.   Over the years working with the group one thing is certain - good volunteers are rare, and to have two seek a board seat and one denied seemed like a waste.   I was not going to remain on the board anyway after my term ended and this would be a good way for both to get involved right away.

Several folks have asked me if I'll still be involved - yes I plan to remain an active member, but not as active as in the past.    Folks have also asked me what I think the group needs to do so in short here are a few of my opinions.  

1) Make the group more accessible to younger musicians - remember newgrass?   We hold jams when most 20 and 30's are sleeping on Saturday mornings, and we also hold them in places a bit away from the Utica Rome area.  

2) Diversify the musical offerings  - It's OK to promote the bands the younger folks listen to - like the Rusty Doves and Strung Sideways - they are a gateway to the more traditional - get em in the door and they will go down the same roads we followed to get to traditional Bluegrass.

3) A summer festival seems to be a big undertaking for little return.   In my opinion the group should do something else.   If the group wants to continue perhaps expand the offering to include some more acoustic traditional music like Old Time, Cajun and perhaps a few younger bands -  a bigger audience will bring more members. 

4) Make membership lifetime - it makes no sense that we have 100 active and 150 former members.   Once your in you stay in.  Email makes it cheap to maintain.   Also, for those that benefit from our group (ie come to jams and don't join, or bands and individuals that cant fork over a few bucks) - let em know we don't appreciate takers.

5) (This is one area I could have done a better job of if I'd only had more time to give)  Have a person in charge of relationships with the local arts venues - we don't co-ordinate with folks like KAC, Park Coffeehouse, Stanley, Capitol etc and invite these folks to share their thoughts and ideas how we can promote our music.

All that said looking back since the beginning I'm very proud of what the group has accomplished.    The Officers and Director who have served have left the organization in excellent financial condition, and in a position to accomplish whatever goals the new board and membership want to accomplish.   Job well done!!!!

I look forward to the continued growth and success of the MVBGA!

Black River Road Trip (Quebec)

Music and being a performing musician has opened up some interesting doors and taken me to a lot of places that I probably would never have heard of, let alone visit, over the last 15 years.    Went to another one this past weekend - the Black River, up in Quebec, near the town of Fort Coulogne.

John Brett, former SailCat, and Current member of Rattlin Bog and  the infamous Thumpwhackers, used to have a cottage up in that area, and still has many friends who are up there.   The place is about 90 minutes or so from Ottawa, and the cottage where we stayed with John's friend Bob Davis, about 12 miles in on a dirt road right along the River.

The idea was to go up to Bob's cottage on a Friday nite, play music till we dropped, have a few drinks, then get up and do a jam/concert with some local musicians at the Black River Hotel down the road Saturday afternoon, then play at a party in Michel Pouliot's (who operates "Expeditions River Noire) Garage/Barn for the locals till we dropped.    In between there would be drinking, plenty of bad jokes, a lot of stories, unhealthy food, a dip or two in the river, and a lot of jammin.   A perfect guys weekend.

The expedition party included most of the band Rattlin Bog - Rick Kincaid, Joe Rowlands, Mike Carroll, and Brett - and me and the King of Kazoo Dwight Putnam.   The six hour drive up there was fairly uneventful, and John introduced us to a Canadian institution on the ride up - the Chip wagon - down here we would call em Roach Coaches - where we stopped to eat and pick up a case of heartburn.   The only local cultural site we passed was the home of James Naismith, founder of Basketball - which ironically did not have a hoop on the property.

We arrived at Bob's place near dark on friday, but could see the accommodations would be among the best the Black River had to offer, and we settled in to have a few cocktails, pull out the instruments, and play our asses off till about 2AM.   Being an old friend of John, Bob was able to tell a few Brett stories, and we also learned about some Canadian gymnastic move called the "Four Leaf Clover".    Bob's place would probably hold 4 people comfortably, so the 7 of us started to get settled in for a few hours of sleep.


Bob  and John didn't have enough music so they kept going, despite our shouting encouragement to "Shut  up!  Stop!  It's Over!"  We gave up and enjoyed their one hour or so bedtime concert, and the snoring started for some.  It finally ended and we all got to have a quick nites sleep, though the cottage sounded like a chain saw test lab and I really didn't get a lot of nap time.

Next morning Bob made a few pots of great black coffee, a big camp breakfast of bacon and egg, and we were ready to face the day.    The indoor plumbing was also a treat, though with 7 guys shuttling back and forth to the outhouse it was good no women were around.     We hung out for the rest of the morning, enjoying the surroundings, grilled some hot dogs, jamming and jokin around till it was time to head down to the Black River Hotel.

Black River near Bob's Camp

This area of the Black River was very sparsely populated and of course off the grid for all services.    Has been a long time since I've been away from all the day to day noise and it felt real good.    We were looking forward to meet some of the locals at the hotel, and get  a chance to play some music for em.    There was also word that Rob Daginea, the fiddle champion of Canada, was coming to join us, so we were looking forward to a chance to play with someone of that caliber.   

The Black River Hotel

The Black River Hotel was empty when we got there at 2, but at least it was open.   The owners gave us a very warm welcome, and we set up our instruments and got ready to play.   It was nice to sit in with the Bog guys, as they are really good musicians and they have a ton of songs they perform, so all I had to do was take an occasional break and pick a harmony.   Plus we worked in some of the stuff Mike and I do with Craobh Dugan, and I threw in few Bluegrass songs.   Brett was ready to go with songs like Dead Skunk that were sure to be crowd pleasers.

L-R - Bob Davis, Bob Thompson, Dwight, Joe

 

It was a while before anyone came in so we had a few beers and enjoyed all the amenities of the hotel - beer and conversation.    Finally a few folks came in and we stared into playing.    It was a blast playing with the guys and we had a whole bunch of songs and tunes for the folks - a pretty interesting and eclectic set really.  The room was pretty good for unamplified sound - perfect for the setting.   After a while the room started filling up and pretty soon it was packed.    Rob showed up with his fiddle, but didn't join us right away - seemed like he wanted to check us out first - or maybe wait for the invite.



 

L-R  Dwight, Me Joe, Brett, and Rick

When Rob did join us we found a lot of tunes in common, and played a though a pretty good set, which the folks there seemed to enjoy.   Playin rythym with him was a treat when he threw out some of his stuff, and we played jigs, reels, a rag, a waltz, and a some swing.   He also let Mike and I pick some of our stuff and was happy to join in.    I was soaked when we finished.   After a spaghetti dinner compliments of our hosts at the hotel we went back down to Bob's to regroup.   Really just enough time for a coffee or a drink, and then down to set up again for Michel's party.

 



 The party was also a big local event, and many more folks came out to for the evening.   There were folks there 90 years old, a pair of 2 year old twins, and every age in between.   Rob came by again and joined us and it was another enjoyable show to play.  Over the course of the evening I got to play mandolin, guitar, tenor banjo, and bass so it was fun swappin around.   And the folks seemed to be havin fun and most stuck around till 1 am or so.

I'll leave the stories for another time, suffice to say we me some interesting folks, and had a lot of fun getting to know them.     By 2 AM it was over and time to crash - Michel had a cottage for Brett, Rick, Mike and I and took us over.    It was spectacular to see the stars from there - the night was so black with no interfering light - never saw them that clear and bright before.   We stayed up till 3? or so talking and crashed.



Mike and Brett

I got up first and enjoyed the view and walked down to the river to find a perfect swimming hole.    Last year some of the locals had told the boys that the water's had magical properties, and if you went in you would enjoy a long life, or some crap like that.   The water was crystal clear, not like the rivers around me.   I could see 6 feet down and see fish swimming around - had to grab my suit and a bar of soap and get in.    Bob said the water was safe to drink, and it was tasty.   Also, after two days of sweating and playin music in 90 heat it felt so good to stand up to my neck in the rivers waters.   The fish didn't seem to like me in his hole and took a few runs at my toes before giving up.   The water moved fast enough to sooth, and it was cool, not cold.   I stayed in for about 45 minutes, swam a ways upstream, and finally got out cause I could hear the guys getting ready to leave.   I could have spent the day in there.  When I got out of the river I believed the locals - it was total rejuvenation!

We stopped at Michel's and Bob's to say our thank you's and goodbyes and we all really wanted to tack on another day to enjoy the river and get to know the area a lot better.   And we started planning next years trip - I can't wait to go back to the Riviere Noire!!!

Back to my Roots - Bluegrass Festival Time

Once upon a time - way back in the days when I started playing music, the only style I truly enjoyed playing was Bluegrass.   Unfortunately for the folks who had to listen to my hours of learning the craft, it was probably not pleasant as I figured my way around the fretboards of the mandolin and guitar.    One thing I always enjoyed was jamming with other Bluegrassers, a great way to get acquainted with the possibilities of the instrument I was playing.  

Over the years, I've drifted away from my Bluegrass beginnings - playing more Old Time, and most recently Irish Trad.   The structure of these forms is one of the things that attracted me, and by playing and performing both, made me a better all around musician.  And I'm havin a pretty good time playing both styles ( a lot of fun and great friends) - but I've had the feeling that I've lost a lot of my Bluegrass chops.    It's also been tough for me to find the time to get out to the festivals with all the things going on in my life.    We do have local jams, but they are not nearly as free form as the festival setting, and mostly seem like a song circle set up for performance.

Last night at the Mohawk Valley Bluegrass Festival up in Boonville, I got a chance to do some real jammin with a bunch of really good musicians, Bluegrass style.   It was a blast!   Mostly, it was a chance to let go of the structure of playing a specific tune, or break for a performance, and enjoy playing the mandolin!!!!   We played a bunch of stuff I've never done before, in keys that I certainly don't embrace, and mostly with folks new to me.    It all clicked.    The rhythm parts flowed out of my mandolin as I was able to find space around and supporting the vocals and leads.   And the breaks were just a freaking blast to let myself go - and for the most part they sounded pretty good.   The F4 held its own with 2 or 3 banjos in the jam.

After about 2 hours jamming , my back and hips were killing me and midnite had arrived (it was a long day of standing - did a set at the festival with a band, and also had MC duties) so I called it a nite.    

Might just have to find a Bluegrass Band in need of a mandolin player!   

Visit to the Carter Fold - hallowed grounds indeed!!

 

To say I've long been a big fan of the Carter Family is an understatement.   Their impact on traditional,country, and pop music is as big as any artist or group in the 20th century.   Perhaps a bit beyond just a fan - as my daughter Kelly and I do a duet and one of our shows is a musical history of the Carter Family.


I've read the definitive bio of the trio - "Will you Miss me When I'm Gone" by Mark Zwonitzer several times, bought the boxed set of all their music, and also have collected articles and the PBS DVD.    It's led me to a very deep appreciation of AP, Sarah, and Maybelle and the unique contributions each has made individually and collectively to the world of music.   

How can you not  admire AP for being one of the architects of modern country and traditional music by developing the song forms that are still in use today, and for preserving hundreds of years of songs in the over 300 songs that he copyrighted during his career.  As he put it - he "fixed" many songs to fit the needs of the 3 minute 78.   He didn't really care where the songs came from and he drew on gospel, folk, ballads, coal mining songs, and the country and blues from the black community.  

Sarah was the first recorded female country singer, and her bold stylings and powerful delivery paved the way for the generations to come.   It was her voice on "Bury Me Beneath the Willow" that hooked Ralph Peer and got the group the recording contracts to follow.

Without Maybelle and her guitar style would we ever have had a Chet Atkins or Merle Travis to follow?   She pioneered her unique style of combining melody and rhythm, and allowed one guitar to sound like a full band.

I've been aware of the Carter Fold, but it was not on my music bucket list.   I figured someday I'd pass by and give it a look.   Never in a million years did I think that I would get a private showing of the Fold by AP's Granddaughter, Rita Forrester!!!

One of my business associates, Keith Sims, from Kingsport TN, grew up in Hiltons, VA, just down the road from the fold.   His family was close to the Carters and when he was growing up Janette Carter (AP's Daughter) was his babysitter.   He stayed close to the family and spent many days and nights helping out at the fold when it started.

When I was in Kingsport to visit Keith, he mentioned that we might have time to visit the Fold, but it was not looking good - the only chance we would get would be around 9PM on a Wednesday night when things were closed up.   Keith said he would call Rita and if she could, she would probably open the Fold up for us.    I was not expecting this to happen, but Keith spoke with her, and she said she would meet us there when we got done with the meeting.

We drove over around 8:30 that evening as the sun was setting.   I had read about the Valley and the tracks, and had some familiarity with the area, but it was nothing like being there and driving down the AP Carter Highway.    You could imagine his trips to Kingsport on the winding dirt roads to visit Leslie Riddle and collect songs.   The countryside was rugged, but very pretty.   Here was where it all started.

We pulled up to the fold, and Rita had not yet arrived, but it was still light enough so get a good look at the grounds - the site of the AP Carter Grocery store, and see the store (now museum) and the relocated cabin that AP was born in.    Felt like I was in a time machine when we got out and walked around.

Rita showed up a few minutes later, and welcomed me and I could tell she and Keith were old friends.   She open the museum and let me wander around looking the the exhibits.  It was neat to imagine the early days when this was just getting underway.   It was AP's wish that Janette would use the property to preserve his and the Carter family music.    She started it in this building, which was her fathers store.  What really caught my eye were the clothes and the guitar from the early days.    The Rita told me that was the stage early on, and she and Keith reminisced about all the folks who had played on that stage.   I could imagine Johnny and June up there in front of 100 people (you couldn't fit too many more in this building).   Rita told me how Johnny want to plug in his electric guitar ( the Fold is dedicated to preserving the acoustic old time country and bluegrass) and how it caused a stir, till June told Janette "he was plugged in when he met me, and he ain't changing now"

She and Keith pulled out a couple of old rocking chairs while I continued to browse, and look at all the items, asking a question now and then, but also enjoying listening to their conversation about all the musicians who visited the Fold.    AP's typewriter caught me eye as well - here was the well from which 100's of songs were shaped.




I could go on and on, but we spent about an hour in the building, and Rita and Keith were great hosts.   I learned a whole lot more, and also gained a greater appreciation for the accomplishments of the Carter Family.    To spend time in that building was like walking a little ways in their shoes.

Rita opened the performance center next, and let me wander the stage and look around the Green Room.   It was too cool to stand center stage where so many great musicians have played, and to look up and imagine the crowds of people who come every weekend to hear great Old Time and Bluegrass Music.    It would be a dream come true to play that stage (hmmmm - let's add that one to the bucket list).   Again, it was also an added bonus to hear Rita and Keith talking about the musicians who had played here.

Last stop was the Cabin - Rita told the story of how it was moved here - you can find more about that on the website - www.carterfamilyfold.org and a whole lot more.    It was like walking back in time they way it was preserved.    You can feel how growing up in this place and this building shaped AP, and how this had become part of so many of his songs.

Well I could not thank Rita and Keith enough for talking so much time out of their busy days to show me the Fold and to give me so much personal history - I felt like Cousin Bill who had dropped in for a visit by the end of the night.   We exchanged hugs when it came time to leave, and I left knowing that I'll be back.    If you ever get down that way, you won't want to miss this........