Dock Jekel - Posted - 11/26/2010:  12:44:25

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Well folks, I got inspired last week by RG’s TOTW pick, Oscar Wright’s, and his version of “Shaving a Dead Man”. So, here’s my choice, a Part 2 tribute to Mr. Wright.

My interpretation of Oscar Wright’s banjo playing would need adjectives like “sparkling” (he hits the 5th string especially often? uses old G tuning, gDGDE often?). I could even call it “writhing” because of the way it quickly winds around and surprises with it’s rhythms. Got any interesting adjectives? My guess is that Mr. Wrights (fretless?) banjo technique is a strong contrast to techniques heard today more frequently- more brushy?, more intricately rhythmic?, less melodic?

The Tune “Sandy River”, played by Oscar Wright (County Records, Clawhammer Banjo, Vol.2) appears to me, the same tune as George Stoneman’s “Sandy River Belle”, (County Records, Clawhammer Banjo, Vol.1). However, Mr. Wrights version of “Sandy River” is not quite the same, as the familiar version of “Sandy River Belle” (hear BHO’ers; RD Lunsford, Adam Hurt, Chris Dean, John Pederson, Hunter Robertson, Clawhammertim etc.).

Interesting for debate, is my hunch that, Oscar Wrights “Sandy River” is also related to Sandy Boys, Salt River, and Salt Creek.

For those of us not familiar with the geography, an actual “Big Sandy River”, separates part of West Virginia from Kentucky.

Fiddlers Companion: ibiblio.org/fiddlers/SAM_SAO.htm

Check out RG’s version of Oscar Wrights famous County Records recording of “Sandy River” which he posted on BHO! Great stuff!

My version, gDGDE:
banjohangout.org/myhangout/med...archived=

I look forward to hearing the other versions you post! I hope for you all a thankful /restful/ pleasantly eventful, banjoful weekend.
Dock

bjcole - Posted - 11/26/2010:  18:27:18

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I first heard Sandy River on Art Rosenbaum's Art of the Mountain Banjo LP. It still seems to be available on the CD packaged with the current book of that name.

bjcole - Posted - 11/26/2010:  19:45:07

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I first heard Sandy River on Art Rosenbaum's Art of the Mountain Banjo LP. It still seems to be available on the CD packaged with the current book of that name.

bjcole - Posted - 11/26/2010:  19:45:17

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I first heard Sandy River on Art Rosenbaum's Art of the Mountain Banjo LP. It still seems to be available on the CD packaged with the current book of that name.

RG - Posted - 11/26/2010:  21:01:35

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Hey Doc-great choice and sweet playing...well done, really liked that "swing" in your version...!!!

ramjo - Posted - 11/27/2010:  10:38:23

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Hi Dock,
How about "mesmerizing" as another adjective for Oscar Wright's playing. I must have heard his Sandy River a thousand times, but still, every time I put it on, I'm completely drawn into it. On the surface, it seems repetitive--and it is only a few distinct phrases--but they're strung together in an unpredictable fashion; even though the pattern is the same each time, I'm never sure just when the phrase is ending, and am always surprised by what comes next. Maybe "meditative" is another adjective. It's trance-inducing for me (not good to listen to in the car!)

Enjoyed your playing. Like how you embrace the tune and make it come out sounding like you.

Robert

Dock Jekel - Posted - 11/27/2010:  16:01:24

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Mesmerizing!

Chris Via - Posted - 11/27/2010:  17:20:49

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Another good one!
I posted a version last year, from Oscars version.
youtube.com/watch?v=94WTw5QuhNk

VIDEO: Oscar Wrights' Sandy River (click to view)

Dock Jekel - Posted - 11/27/2010:  18:29:41

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This country (world) is too big sometimes! Wish everyone was a little more nearby. Sure would be nice to hear such excellent players as Chris and RG in person. Even jam a little!!! Hey fellas, give me a call if you're ever in my area- we'll play a few.

Dock Jekel - Posted - 11/27/2010:  18:35:21

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Just to give you an idea about my situation in Northern California (little north of the wine country of Napa and Sonoma Valley), I bet there aren't but four or five other players in a hundred miles of where I live that ever tried to play a Oscar Wright-ish "Sandy River" on the banjo. Is this the same elsewhere? Or just me?

janolov - Posted - 11/28/2010:  05:56:15

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quote:

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Originally posted by Dock Jekel

Just to give you an idea about my situation in Northern California (little north of the wine country of Napa and Sonoma Valley), I bet there aren't but four or five other players in a hundred miles of where I live that ever tried to play a Oscar Wright-ish "Sandy River" on the banjo. Is this the same elsewhere? Or just me?

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Thanks for the tune Dock. I will absolutely try it.
I feel the same, but I would say I there aren't but two other players in a thousand miles of where I live that ever tried to play a Oscar Wright-ish "Sandy River" on the banjo.

Don Borchelt - Posted - 11/29/2010:  07:37:32

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Well, you all decided to play "stump the bluegrass guy" this week, huh. Well, after listening to all the great versions posted here, I decided I had darn well better pay my dues. I figured I should start with the source, so I dug out my Clawhammer Banjo LP, only to realize that it was on Volume II, which I don't have, so then I dug out my Amazon MP3 bookmark, and downloaded it. I slowed old Oscar down to about 1/3 speed, which is the only speed my brain works at these days. Now, three finger picking attacks the strings a lot different than clawhammer, so I didn't use "Last Chance" tuning; I used a G variant tuning instead (gDGAD), which, as it happens, is the tuning that I also use for Last Chance. Where you guys have that really nice little lick with the rhythmic first string pull-off, I approximate the same effect with a simple box roll.



(Remember, those two licks are in two different tunings.)

While I have not followed Oscar Wright note for note, I have followed him phrase by phrase, if that makes any sense. So you'll find attached a video of my attempt at Sandy River. I grant you that the tune is truly mezmerizing, especially once you internalize it, but I also got the worse case of RSS in both hands working this thing out over the last three days! It's not hard to play at all, it's just... hard to play.

It was worth it, though.

I have posted the tab on my website, for any three finger pickers out there who might be interested:

banjr.com/tablatures.htm

- Don Borchelt

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Edited by - Don Borchelt on 11/29/2010 07:41:37

VIDEO: Sandy River (click to view)

RG - Posted - 11/29/2010:  10:11:17

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Hey Don-once more you have amazed me with your arrangement and playing-that was an awesome version and a really cool sound you pull out of that banjo!

Dock-love to bring up the fiddle and banjo and jam with you sometime, my daughter goes to Chico State so maybe one of these trips I'll take a long detour west and we'll play some music together, if you're ever close to LA let me know and we'll get a jam set up for you, have some great OT guys and gals around here and a weekly jam that you would like...if a festival is more to your liking come down next year for "Old Time is a Good Time" or the Goleta fiddle festival...guarantee you'll like it! Old Time/Good Time is always right before the Topanga banjo/fiddle fest so you could do both of them over the weekend...would be a big time!

oldtimeisagoodtime.com/

fiddlersconvention.org/dpage.php?page_id=1

topangabanjofiddle.org/

Dock Jekel - Posted - 11/29/2010:  15:47:54

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Don... Just big smiles! Thanks for the melodic 3-finger version on youtube! RG, I'm going to remember the invitation, thanks. Dock

Chris Via - Posted - 11/30/2010:  16:35:31

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nice job Don. Hard and irregular tune to learn, but you got it down good.