frailin - Posted - 02/08/2013:  11:48:50

Ok.  Now it's time for me to float this.

The Banjo Builder Series is in the process of being delivered to the fine folks at Smithsonian Folkways.  There the programs will live long and prosper (for them) for many years to come.  Generations of banjo (and Old time music) lovers will be able to learn the background stories, see the lifestyles and hear the personal inspirations behind today's roster of incredible artists (and historians). 

But this passing has left a hole.  I don’t think I need to tell you that, to me, the project was the "adventure of a lifetime"... a rush beyond words.  So, since I'm not quite dead yet, I’m considering saddling up for another birthday present (just for me, of course).  

Discovering the world of the Banjo Builders was life-changing.  Many of you have confirmed being touched by the inspiring messages of satisfaction/happiness, found in their pursuit of creative expression (regardless of worldly gain).  And yes, they do know they’re bringing the world joy.  This got me to thinking about another group whose stories should also be captured for posterity… today’s old-time musicians. 

Imagine the fun of being able to hear Charlie Poole's stories first-hand?  Or listening to/participating in a more in-depth conversations with Tommy, Fred or Kyle Creed?  Unfortunately, these guys are gone, but as with the Banjo Builders, there's a might fine roster of players today that are not only carrying on the tradition, but adding to it.  And as far as I know, nobody has stepped up to record the inspirations or creative approaches of the likes of a Tom Paley, Dan Gellert, Kathy Fink or 25 more of this caliber of living musician. I think these tales sounds like a fine Series worth saving.  And, as such, it might make for another fun birthday adventure.  

As with the Banjo Builders, it’s tough (if not impossible) to come up with an objective way of fairly saying “you’re to be included".  So in taking this on, I know there will be some disappointment in who gets recorded (but such is life).  As with the Banjo Builders, I do know it was worth the effort.  So I'd like to get as many musicians as time, money and stamina allow.  I'll get to that list in a moment. But first...

I’m wanting to get YOU folks more involved this time around.  Filming the Banjo Builders was too much fun not to share.  

I met a lot of fine folks along the Banjo Builder way.  Some offered housing, transportation, food, jam opportunities, even $$.  It was awesome!  So why not include more of you in the making of this second documentary series? Can I hear an amen?  

So here’s the rough plan.  It starts with HOUSE CONCERTS.

Ideally, I'll get 2-3 OT musicians together - by region/proximity - for an evening house concert.  This will be held at someone's home that's willing to put up with a bunch of OT folks, sitting through an evening with our musical heroes.  Whoever volunteers doesn't have to have a huge home, but it should comfortably accommodate 25-35 or so.  

There'll be two concerts at that house over that particular weekend:  3 musicians on Friday and 3 on Saturday.  Each night features a 2 hour program (with an intermission).  The evenings entertainment will involve music and lots of interview/conversation including questions from the crowd.  But once the fun starts, it goes.  From that footage, I'll assemble up to 6 separate programs. One for each musician.  Oh, I will be flying in on the Thursday before to set up the house stage and make sure the lighting and sound work properly. So you'll have to put up with me rearranging your furniture.  I'll try to put it all back right when finished.  

Depending upon the final number of musicians included (and regions planned), I could maybe record all these house concert weekends (hopefully a total of 4-6) over the course of a year.  Yah, crazy again... but it's a rush.   

Once I get a handle on who lives where (the musicians), I'll post a couple of cities centrally located and then see if some of you wanna have this little soiree at your place.  I can't pay you anything, but I can pretty much assure you, it is gonna be a memorable night.  In addition to some autographs, you might even meet some new BHO friends!  

Ok.  So here's my first pass of contenders for the documentary series:

-----------------------------------

Performers Emeritus:

Some of these folks are semi-retired or so, but most still play.  All have contributed significantly to the OT music genre as we know it today:

Tom Paley

Howie Bursen

Art Rosenbaum

Reed Martin

Jody Stecher

Tom Sauber

Mark (Clawgrass) Johnson

Richie Sterns

David Holt

Mac Benford



 

--------------------

Current Performers:

And while we're at it, here are some banjo and fiddle players, too.  

Walk Koken

Bruce Molsky

Rayna Gellert

Chirps Smith

Brad Leftwich

Kirk Sutphin

David Bass

Frank Lee

Dan Gellert

John Hermann

Ken Perlman

Joe Newberry

Cathy Fink

Steve Arkin

Chris Coole

Arnie Naiman

Paul Brown

Riley Baugus

Abigail Washburn

--------------------

Newer Performers:

And here are some folks turnin' heads today.  

Rachel Eddy

Ann Roberts-Gevalt

Sarah Jarosz

Rebekah Weiler

Lucas Poole

--------------------

Home Town Favorites:

And this is just the tip of the iceburg here at BHO.  

John Balch

Mike Iverson

Mary Cox

Dan Levenson

RD Lunceford

Donald Zepp

As with the Banjo Builders, I'll initially be funding this project outa my own pocket.  You folks that pre-ordered the last time made it all possible before the grant came through.  Will have to see if there's some other grant I can tap for this.  

And if any of you businesses (or private individuals) would consider being a sponsor, I'd be delighted to chat about that.  No kickstarter needed, here.  I'd like to keep this in the music family (community).  

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One more thing:  No "Old-time Performers" category exists at Smithsonian Folkways today.  But its been shown, if they think something is worthy enough to save for posterity, they make room.  I'm reasonably confident this Series will be given consideration.  

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So... anybody wanna host a house concert?  

Edited by - frailin on 02/08/2013 12:06:31

Brooklynbanjoboy - Posted - 02/08/2013:  12:06:50

Nice idea, Craig.

I'll try and support you.

If you're in Augusta County, we have a guest bedroom with your name on it.



Lew

Cottonmouth - Posted - 02/08/2013:  13:01:44

Might you also consider Laura Boosinger (NC), one of my most favorite clawhammerists?

frailin - Posted - 02/08/2013:  13:14:53

It'll take me a while to zero in on the final performers.  And we don't know who may not be available to participate.  

So please do give me names of folks that could be considered as Performer Emeritus or among the very best of today's active performers.  

The amazing Laura is one that clearly qualifies for both groups.  

Edited by - frailin on 02/08/2013 13:15:29

ScottK - Posted - 02/08/2013:  13:42:16

Hi Craig,

If your tour stops in Portland I can host a house concert.  I've hosted a lot of old time musicians over the last several years.  I'm on house concert hiatus at the moment, but I'd come out of retirement to host this special event.    If you end up making your Region 10 stop in Seattle, I can put you in touch with an old time musician there who occasionally hosts house concerts.

Here are a few more candidates for Region 10 performers:

Performers Emeritus

Phil & Vivian Williams (Seattle)

Bertram Levy (Port Townsend)

Current Performers

Lisa Ornstein (Portland)

Canote Brothers (Seattle)

W.B. Reid and Bonnie Zahnow (Seattle)

Foghorn Stringband (Portland)

The Tallboys (Seattle)

Newer Performers

Tatiana Hargreaves (Corvallis)

The Macrae Sisters (Portland)

And just for fun, here's a video a BHO buddy took of Reed Martin and Lisa Ornstein playing a tune together at the end of a house concert Reed performed at my place back in 2008:

Cheers, Scott

INFP47 - Posted - 02/08/2013:  14:39:12

Hi Craig,

We just moved to Winston-Salem which might be an ideal location to catch several old-time musicians.  We would like to offer our home if you are interested and you think we have enough space.  Riley Baugus lives here as does Adam Hurt.  I would also suggest you include Bob Carlin who lives nearby as do many other old-time musicians  Let me know if you are interested in our location.

Marc Nerenberg - Posted - 02/08/2013:  15:06:14

I would really like to see you include the Romeros in there. I know you did them as builders - but they're great musicians too.

frailin - Posted - 02/08/2013:  15:08:27

For those that have not yet watched Conversations with Banjo Historians (volume 3 in the Banjo Builder Series), I already have the stories of performers Bob Carlin, Adam Hurt, Dwight Diller, Taj Mahal and Kevin Fore.

Rather than duplicate a message, I would like to include more performers.

Edited by - frailin on 02/08/2013 15:21:38

Keith Madison - Posted - 02/08/2013:  15:53:18

Wow Craig - you're amazing + everything you do is top notch, so go for it, it'll make the music world richer for it.

blockader - Posted - 02/08/2013:  17:06:32

Pm sent.

ravedog - Posted - 02/08/2013:  18:11:39

the best thing that comes to my mind is a small venue (65 seats) club in altadena, calif,in the los angeles,ca. area.
it's called the "coffee gallery backstage". the owner is Bob Stane, who has been presenting great music around here for 50 years
and once owned the "ice house" in pasadena a place that many folk/old time/bluegrass proformers got their start back in the 60's
and 70's. bob is known for showcasing new and great people and may be worth calling. ( tom sauber liver about 5 miles away0
and some of the names you've lined up have been therein the past. if you could do the project on a weeknight I should think
the cost may be only to cover the overhead..it's his kind of project...(he has a good following and also advertises well.
before I start sounding like a used car salesman I just want to let you know that that you can't say enough good stuff about bob stane
here's a link to the place:
coffeegallery.com/home.html

chuck k.

Ho C Ying - Posted - 02/08/2013:  18:15:33

Wow! Very GOOD News! Please include Clifton Hicks.

Peepaw59 - Posted - 02/09/2013:  15:42:25

 How about Dwight  Diller? Not much mention, but an iconic player. Heard he does a house concert each year in Pa..Great teacher as well as player.

banjo_brad - Posted - 02/09/2013:  17:43:08

I'd like to put in a plug for Chip Arnold, if he's available for something like this. I think his knowledge of, and friendship with, Will Keys should be put into the record, so to speak.

INFP47 - Posted - 02/09/2013:  18:12:24

I would like to recommend Franklin George, perhaps as an "Emeritus" if he is still playing. He is a great banjo player and very connected to the tradition.

Winged Words - Posted - 02/10/2013:  00:55:39

I just knew you wouldn't stop with vol 3. This is a great idea and while I can't offer much help from the UK, I shall look forward to the end product keenly.
Glad you've got the stalwarts of the BHO on the list and all I'd want to add is Hunter Robertson (but isn't he in Geneva or somewhere?) and Nathan Bowles with or without the other Black Twigs. I just got his solo CD and have played it A Lot. And I second the Romeros too.
Geoff

munchausen - Posted - 02/10/2013:  11:24:44

Cecelia Conway at Appalachian State University. She would be a great resource on the history of the banjo and its role in American culture.

Chad

frailin - Posted - 02/10/2013:  11:53:42

Cece is great. And she's already on Volume 3 of the Banjo Builder Series. :)

Todd Treadway - Posted - 02/10/2013:  13:39:16

Fantastic project! I'll toss Cathy Barton's name in the Emeritus or Current group. She's been a fave of mine.

bartonpara.com/

Edited by - Todd Treadway on 02/10/2013 13:40:41

Clawdan - Posted - 02/11/2013:  06:50:23

Sound's like a great one Craig. Touring CA in May with Bob Carlin. Summer tour takes in NV, ID, CO and AR. Planning a trip up to the NW in the Fall. Perhaps along the way or home here in the winter.

Dan

Viper - Posted - 02/11/2013:  07:45:55

quote:

---

Originally posted by frailin

It'll take me a while to zero in on the final performers.  And we don't know who may not be available to participate.  

So please do give me names of folks that could be considered as Performer Emeritus or among the very best of today's active performers.  

 

---

I'd throw out Mark Olitsky in Cleveland. 

DoubleG - Posted - 02/11/2013:  10:52:11

Amen to Mark Olistsky who lives, teaches, and plays here in the Cleveland Ohio area.

wallflower - Posted - 02/11/2013:  15:44:19

We are a bit remote here in Priest River. However, we're 23 miles from Sandpoint, Idaho which has a rich history of supporting the arts. Check out festivalatsandpoint.comfestivalatsandpoint.com

We have a new home with plenty of space for a house concert and 3 guest rooms if anyone wants to stay over. If you can find your way here, we'd be delighted to host.
Carol & Bruce

ChuckS - Posted - 02/11/2013:  20:51:10

Neil Woodward here in Michigan comes to mind, as does Tim Twiss.

neilwoodward.com/

Awesome project!

srrobertsiii - Posted - 02/13/2013:  05:55:23

Hi Craig,

If an east Tennessee venue would be helpful, the wife and I would be happy to host both you and a house concert. We were able to have the Freight Hoppers at her church last fall, so may be able to "stretch" the venue a bit if that appeals. (Would that make it a House concert?) I'll not add recommendations to your performers list, as it appears you have plenty of folk far more knowledgeable than I am helping in that respect.

All the best in this latest endeavor. Sounds like a great idea.

Sam R

Winged Words - Posted - 02/17/2013:  21:01:31

Bump. In danger of dropping off the first page. Surprisingly little response. Is the thread title right? FRAILIN'S NEXT SCHEME might be better?
Ok for me to talk - I'm several thousand miles away from any serious involvement.

Clawdan - Posted - 02/18/2013:  05:21:10

quote:

---

Originally posted by wallflower

We are a bit remote here in Priest River. However, we're 23 miles from Sandpoint, Idaho which has a rich history of supporting the arts. Check out festivalatsandpoint.comfestivalatsandpoint.com



We have a new home with plenty of space for a house concert and 3 guest rooms if anyone wants to stay over. If you can find your way here, we'd be delighted to host.

Carol & Bruce

---

I'll be up for Weiser again this year. See you there?

PlayNice

Dan