Hello, friends! I just found the great news! The real bluegrass band is going to visit my country!!! I never saw real bluegrass musicians and I think it's a great chance to see them in real life! They will perform in the "palace Turkiston" - it's the place where Alex works and where we record my new album there in studio! So I think I could visit that concert and see the real bluegrass musicians, especially it's a female band! I searched for some information about them and it seems they have no banjo player... I think I could try to play Foggy Mountain Breakdown with these girls if it will be possible to see them before or after the concert
The U.S. Embassy invites you to a traditional bluegrass music concert! Della Mae will perform with local Uzbek musicians at the Turkiston Palace on November 19 at 19:00.
Della Mae is a renowned traditional bluegrass band from Boston, Massachusetts. They are the first all-female bluegrass band to perform on the U.S. national touring scene. They have also traveled the world bringing traditional music to foreign audiences.
To obtain tickets for the free concert, please contact the U.S. Embassy Information Re
source Center (IRC) no later than November 18.
Address: Turkiston Palace, Navoi 2, Yunusabad district, 100000 Tashkent
Tel: (+998 71) 140-2525, 140-2441
Email: Tashkent-Program@state.gov (please include your first and last name and indicate if you will pick up the tickets at the IRC or at the concert)
I never heard them, but they have some videos on YouTube, and they sound pretty darn good! You should have a good time at their show. Thanks for posting. Here's a sample of their playing: youtube.com/watch?v=t8Nc2Z2hmo...e=related Paul
Ironic it took someone from so far away to tell us about these gals! Jana,i think you won't have any problem getting to chat and possibly play with these ladies.You'll have to share at least pictures and maybe a video clip too!
May as well have Alex use whatever connections he has, to make SURE that these gals know that there is at least one banjo playing woman in Uzbekistan, and she wants to meet them.
Della Mae isn't really a bluegrass band, Janna - at least, not as most of us over here would define it. They did, however start out primarily as a bluegrass band and evolved from there. So their music is closely related to bluegrass, and they all know bluegrass quite well.
You WILL enjoy their show immensely; they play and sing beautifully. And with any luck, you'll get a chance to do some pickin' with them - I'm sure you'd find it fun.
eagleislandyes, I think you're right, I also wonder how bluegrass can be performed without banjo But all the people in my city (Tashkent) will think that it's real bluegrass music, because they're still don't know what is it
Della Mae isn't really a bluegrass band, Janna - at least, not as most of us over here would define it. They did, however start out primarily as a bluegrass band and evolved from there. So their music is closely related to bluegrass, and they all know bluegrass quite well.
You WILL enjoy their show immensely; they play and sing beautifully. And with any luck, you'll get a chance to do some pickin' with them - I'm sure you'd find it fun.
Got to disagree with you on this one, Skip. Even without a banjo, their music has the timing, feel and emotion of bluegrass. Their guitarist now plays clawhammer banjo on a few songs. I think they're grassier than a number of other young, contemporary bluegrass bands I've come across that do have a banjo.
Anyone who's in my neck of the woods in March can see them at the Emelin Theatre in Mamaroneck, NY, where they'll be appearing as part of the bluegrass concert series I book for the theatre (emelin.org).
Edited by - arnie fleischer on 11/12/2012 19:49:28
You go for it girl ! I bet they'll love to meet and pick with you. This could be a doorway to gain some more exposure to the world music scene. If you do play with them try to get a video or at least a few pics with them. Best of luck. Hope you enjoy the concert.
Thanks, friends! Of course, If I'll have a chance to meet them or even to play with them after the concert, I'll try to make some pictures or video, but in any case, I'll tell you about this concert! I think it will be very interesting!!!
It was amazing! I saw real bluegrass musicians!!!!!! I had tears on my eyes when they sang country songs with their fairy voices... I never heard before so beautiful voices on the live performances!.. We met also after the concert and it seems we became friends... They are so nice girls, I just couldn't imagine that they are so kind and simple!.. One girl said that she knows that I from banjohangout!.. I was speaking with them in English!.. Alex was with me and he said that my English was terrible, I often made mistakes in times and was thinking for a long time how to say what I wanted to say in English, but they understood me, and I understood all that they were saying... It was the first bluegrass band I ever saw in my real life, not on the internet...
Me and Alex were just shocked how American girls can play instruments and sing... And I understood that I'm just nothing, I even don't know any bluegrass music and songs, all that I was playing for these years while I was learning to play banjo - it was very different, I know nothing about bluegrass living here in Uzbekistan so far away where people don't know about American music and culture... It's too pity, I tried to play Foggy Mountain Breakdown with them, but my heart was beating so strong so I just forgot how to play it... When we played together I counldn't think, I couldn't see, I just flew away, it was so amazing, I felt so happy, I never knew before that music can bring so happy feelings !!!
I know only two or three bluegrass songs, and I didn't learn others, because I had no chance to perform bluegrass music here with someone, people always ask me to play Uzbek or other different music on banjo, but not bluegrass, because they don't know what is it... Even the girls from "Della Mae" played with Uzbek musicians here on the stage, yes, it was great collaboration with our cultures, it was like I did, you know, so I want to hear more real bluegrass)))) Alex was shocked too especially when he was listening to their guitar player, how she played, he said he never saw nothing like this... Now I think we need to go to US to learn how to play country music and to listen it live... But I don't know how to make it real, so maybe it was my only chance in my life to see real bluegrass band, I will remember them for all my life! Please forgive me for so many words, I can say more, but I think you'll tired to read it)))
We made some photos with them and my dad came with camera and he shoot the video from that concert, so I'll post it when it will be ready. Please forgive me my friends for emotions, but it was something unbelievable for me, for the only banjo player in my country... I think I'm still not a real banjo player, I need to learn it in reality from the real bluegrass musicians... Now I live my life only in the internet, but I think I really very happy to have such a nice friends as you from another side of the Earth. Americans are very talented people, and I wonder how they're smile! They're always smile and positive and they looks so happy!!! It's amazing, it's so unusual for us, and it's so nice, really!
(please forgive me for my English...hope you can understand me anyhow))))
Hey ! I'm from Australia and I understood and loved every word you wrote. you are an inspiration Janna, Beautiful, young and talented to boot. I am sure you have a great future ahead of you....All my very best wishes to you. Michael
Here's some photos - "Della Mae" with banjo player!
(one girl who plays guitar gone to give interview to someone, so she's not on these pictures, but I'll post more photos after the concert with her later when I'll receive them from their director)
Quote from Janna: "I think I'm still not a real banjo player..."
You ARE a REAL banjo player, Janna - and a terrific one too! There's a lot more to banjo than bluegrass - what you play is just as valid and important, not to mention beautiful!
Andijan Polka sounds great! Glad you got a chance to see Della Mae, and had a good time. If banjo wasn't deep in your soul before, it sure is now! Paul
So glad to hear the end of this story....even though I know its just the beginning for you! It warms me heart and brings joy to my soul to just read about your happy experience.
Janna, I am so happy for you hearing a real bluegrass band. I bet they were impressed with you as much as you were impressed with them. You are a beautiful banjo player and don't ever say you are not a real banjo player. You sure have many fans here at Banjo Hangout. I am one of those fans.
There is so much more to banjo playing than just Bluegrass. You are a perfect example of the broad appeal and variety banjo can fit into. I applaud you "pioneer" spirit as the only one of a kind in your home country. So glad to see how happy you are to have met the girls and I bet you they learned a bit from you as well. We all look forward to seeing you and Alex on tour here someday. Please make some more CD's. They will help fund your dreams and make a lot of banjoists happy as well. Keep on pickin" .
Jana, Bluegrass gets in your heart and soul. I wish you could come to the U.S. and go to Bluegrass Festival. It's so great because there is so much talent out there in the campground during the jams, and then the musicians come out and jam with the regular folks.
Smiles to you. May this happy memory live in your heart forever.
Thanks for a wonderful story. I have enjoyed listening to Della Mae when I have heard them on the radio, and I am sure they were so much better in person. i am also very impressed with your playing on Andijan Polka. You ARE a real banjo player--don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
Janna: Well done. You are indeed an inspiration to many over here that are struggling to learn to play banjo! Don't under-estimate yourself. You are an excellent musician. One thing you will learn about bluegrass musicians - there are thousands that can learn the basics and spend all of their time mimicking (copying) what others play. There are very few that can successfully take the style and adapt it to other venues, as you have done. In that regard you stand out - head and shoulders above many others.
Listen and learn from all of the bluegrass music you hear - but don't stop doing what you do. There is a saying from one of our American folk singers (Bob Dylan) - the words from one of his songs, " He not busy being born, is busy dying." It means essentially that for a full life you have to keep on learning new things - and growing. I think you demonstrate that admirably!
Janna, thank you for sharing your inspirational story and your tunes. You play beautifully, and honestly, your written English is excellent. Clearly you are blessed with tons of talent. I predict that one day you will find a way to visit the US and soak up as much traditional music as possible. Best wishes for every continued success!
Great story...glad you got to see the concert and meet the band. I'm sure the band will never forget meeting you, and will welcome you anywhere you meet.
And don't put yourself down, you are an excellent banjo player, regardless if you think you don't know enough bluegrass. Keep picking!
This is great! My son just returned from Uzbekistan traveling with a group of international artists. He had a great time. Also some of my family lived in Samarkand during World War II having been evacuated from Ukraine ahead of the German Army. My 96 year old cousin said his family was treated very kindly by the Uzbeks.
"You ARE a REAL banjo player, Janna - and a terrific one too! There's a lot more to banjo than bluegrass - what you play is just as valid and important, not to mention beautiful!"
Best advice I ever got, was from local Milwaukee banjo expert Ken Haferman.
"Kid, it's your banjo. Play it any damn' way you want!"
I have been hacking at the banjo for more than half a century. It is terribly inaccurate for you to say that you are not a real banjo player.
You would be more accurate if you were to say you are not as good YET as you would like to be.
You are, without a doubt, one of the ten best banjo players in the entire Nation of Uzbekistan.
The fact that there may not yet BE even five other players there, does not affect that fact.
And, from having listened to literally hundreds here in my country, I would say you could pick along with most of them, and the very best of them would have no trouble adjusting ever so slightly, IF they had to, in order to pick along with you.
Thank you, dear friends!!! Your words are help me, it's so insiring!!! I'm so happy to know you, and I also wish so! Tonight I'll see the video and if it would be possible, I'll post how we played))) Please forgive me for emotions, yes, American country music is in my heart, it's so strange feeling that I feel like I miss my motherland when I listen to country songs...it seems like I came here from that far away land someday and it makes me cry... Sometimes I think it's very strange)
I remember when Jack Clift came to Tashkent when he brought me the Nechville banjo. I asked him to sing any country and cowboy songs and I felt the same when I heard his American singing! You can ask him, if you don't believe me)) He was wondered and it was very hard for me to tell him what I feel.
So I don't know )) I don't like and don't listen to our Uzbek, Russian and Korean music, which maybe must be my native, but I love Western music as it's my native... so I choose the banjo for playing music by listening to my heart, not listening to other people around me...So I'm the only banjo player here. I just feel something inside me, something special, so I was so excited about it and the real bluegrass band too!!!
I met Paul Rockower who is director of communications from the site americanvoices.org and said him that me and Alex would like to learn how to play bluegrass music in USA, and he said he can help. I'll write him a letter, hope he remember me. But in any case he promised send me the photos with the full "Della Mae" band! I'll post them in all my web pages and I'll be proud of that experience
Dear friends! Now you can see it on the video!!! Finally it's uploaded!!! Now it's on Sound Off forum topic, here's the link to the video -banjohangout.org/topic/250074
. But in any case he promised send me the photos with the full "Della Mae" band! 
