frailin - Posted - 09/26/2016:  21:02:52

Banjo Builders & Old-time Performers - VOLUME 5

Twice as many stories, half the travel!

After 5 years and 40,000+ miles recording some stories while cruising by other important folks - only to return to film them at a later date - I figure it's time to smarten-up.  As such, I've decided to combine my 2 favorite "Conversations" subjects from our Old-time/Traditional Americana Music Community.  And since I just happen to already have 4 Volumes of Banjo Builders...

and 4 Volumes of Old-time Performers...

VOLUME 5 (due late this fall - 2016) will include more Conversations with BOTH!

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So here's a partial listing of the Banjo Builders and OT Performers already signed up for Volume 5 (more to follow).  

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Banjo Builders:

The venerable Dean Robinson of Deanocraft Custom Banjos.

Tasteful Tas Philp of Windrose Banjos.  A musically-inclined furniture maker (lucky us!).  

And the artful Matthew Arcara of MGA Guitars.

For Old-time Performers:

I'm delighted to record the stories of the amazingly entertaining Canote Brothers!

And learn more about the masterful performer and composer, Erynn Marshall - with a special guest! (I wonder who?). 

And to finally meet multi-instrumentalist, performer, composer and eternal Hellbender, James Leva. 

I'll be setting up a Buy It Now button for Volume 5 on the Old-timer Performer site shortly.  This Volume will eventually be headed to Smithsonian Folkways but it takes them a while to assimilate.  

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In the meantime, here's a sampling from another famous Old-time Performer included on Volume 5, someone we all know here at Banjo Hangout... our own Dan Levenson.  In this clip Dan talks about the importance (and spirituality) of "energy, flow and community."  

More information on Volume 5 of Conversations with Banjo Builders and Old-time Performers to follow on this thread.  To order, check back for the (soon to come) Buy It Now button at oldtimeperformers.com.

Here we go (again)!

Thanks, folks! 

frailin

Edited by - frailin on 09/26/2016 21:08:31

JanetB - Posted - 09/27/2016:  10:15:10

Oh, wow, you're the Johnny Appleseed of banjo (and you posted this on his birthday)!

BanjarTater - Posted - 09/27/2016:  20:43:38

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, oh boy.......!!!

frailin - Posted - 10/07/2016:  08:16:14

Earlier this week I drove to Paw Paw, Michigan to interview the one-and-only Jan Bloom.  Working on editing that show next week.  It includes banjos, fiddles, antique canoes and collectable BMW motorcycles.  One never knows what to expect when visiting with a Banjo Builder.  

Oh.  I did get a chance to experience one of my favorite things... spontaneous fun.  In this case, from the get-go.  

Click on pic.

Winged Words - Posted - 10/12/2016:  22:37:24

Hello Craig

Am I missing the "buy it now" button?

Keep up the good work!
G

frailin - Posted - 10/13/2016:  06:18:57

Thanks for the "bump" Geoff.  I'm wanting to finish a draft of Jan Bloom's show first.  

The Buy It Now button should be up early next week.  

frailin - Posted - 10/14/2016:  11:43:31

Ok.  The Buy-it-Now Button FOR VOLUME 5 is active on both the Banjo Builders and Old-time Performers pages.  Scroll DOWN to it.    

In the meantime, here's a pic of Hornbeam banjo builder Jan Bloom in his happy place.  He really is happy.  Really!    

frailin - Posted - 10/15/2016:  07:41:34

OMG!  You guys (and gals)!  I'm overwhelmed!!  I so love my BHO friends!  

I came home yesterday to an inbox stuffed with advanced orders for Volume 5.  Michael, Paul, Frank, Connie Sam, Geoff, Brian, Howard (and more... I've missed a few), YOUR ONGOING SUPPORT for the "Conversations" series humbles and delights me!!  

I have to tell you all, EVERY TIME I'm interviewing someone, I'M THINKING OF YOU!  Seriously!  Where I started out to find interesting stories FOR ME (my 60th BD present), NOW I take you all into the interview with me.  

When I laugh, it's because I know what I just learned with entertain you as much as it does me.  

I literally can't wait to get back home to edit/produce the show so I can share the experience and the joy.  It's a VERY COOL THING!  

THANK YOU THANK YOU for sharing these adventures with me.  I'm thrilled knowing others will be discovering this (today's) history for generations to come.  

If I could give you all a hug, I would.  

frailin - Posted - 10/29/2016:  11:39:11

Volume 5 Update:  Two more stories in the can. Eight to go.   

Earlier this past week I spent a delightful two days in ME and VT.  Here's pics from my time interviewing guitar and banjo builder (& performer!), Matt Arcara.

Matt's guitar and banjo chops are exceptional (he's founder of the band Joy Kills Sorrow).  How lucky we are he's fascinated making musical instruments.   

  _____

And here's another impressive player/builder, William Seeders Mosheim.  

Will got jump-started in making incredible instruments by growing up in his dad's furniture workshop (and business).  

Amazing work now being produced from both these shops... with much more to come!  Yee-ha!  

frailin - Posted - 10/29/2016:  12:05:55

At the end of the week I caught up on more stories from a dear BHO friend I hadn't see in a very long time (Maine John - John Coleman).  He even bought ME breakfast (what a nice guy!).  

Later on he rocked the reception area of the Comfort Inn with his recently-rescued Craigslist find, a #3 tubaphone (wow!).  

I love my job!  

arnie - Posted - 10/29/2016:  12:43:32

Amazing work Craig! 

frailin - Posted - 11/12/2016:  12:54:50

This was yesterday... amazing times with Seattle-based Banjo (furniture and boat) Builder, Tas Philp.  Wonderful things in store here.

And today was zany, fun with the effervescent Canote Brothers.   This has been a fine, fine weekend.  Thank you, Seattle!  

Pine Cone - Posted - 11/12/2016:  21:23:32

The Canote twins are always fun to hang out with, play music with or just sit back and watch them perform.  Glad you had a good time in the Seattle area.  Looking forward to the completion of your latest project!

R.D. Lunceford - Posted - 11/13/2016:  17:39:43

Craig, if you keep hitting home-runs like this you may get a job offer in Chicago!

BrendanD - Posted - 11/14/2016:  01:43:33

quote:

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Originally posted by frailin

And today was zany, fun with the effervescent Canote Brothers.   This has been a fine, fine weekend.  Thank you, Seattle!

Two of my oldest and bestest pals! Did you meet Blackie the cat?

frailin - Posted - 11/14/2016:  05:04:42

Welcoming committee.

ScottK - Posted - 11/14/2016:  21:53:08

Hi Craig,

Wish I had known you were in Seattle this past weekend.  I was there for Dare to Be Square - West where the Canote Brothers were performing and teaching workshops.  I would have twisted your arm to stop by.  Lots of great jamming and dancing!  Or maybe you did stop by and I missed you, since I spent so much time squirreled away playing tunes. :-)  I learned a cool key of C fiddle tune from Greg in a workshop yesterday called Chinese Rag, sort of a version of Chinese Breakdown. The Canote Brothers are performing a concert here in Portland Friday, so I'm hoping to catch that as well.

Looking forward to Volume 5!

Scott

frailin - Posted - 11/15/2016:  06:15:31

Hi Scott.  I was looking for you!  

I followed the Canotes over to D2BS on Saturday morning and sat in on their workshop for a while.  Also listened in to Molly Tenenbaum and others.  What a great gathering!  And I was looking for you!  I had to leave before noon to catch my plane.  

Love the enthusiasm I feel in Seattle!  

Here's a pic from Greg and Jere's workshop.  

ScottK - Posted - 11/15/2016:  07:19:21

Hi Craig,

Glad you were able to catch some of D2BS and sorry I missed you. I was in David Kahn's "Danceable Fiddling" workshop Saturday morning which was tucked away in a room behind the main stage upstairs. If you would have been there Friday night you would have found me in the room in your picture sitting in the chair Jere's in, 'cause I spent about 5 hours sitting there playing tunes. :-) And if you hadn't had to leave by noon Saturday you would have found me for sure, 'cause some friends and I ended up playing tunes outside on the sidewalk for 3 hours in the afternoon while the smaller rooms inside were being used for workshops. At one point some of the enthusiastic young folk came out and started calling squares on the sidewalk while we played, so we were pretty easy to spot. :-) Anyway, D2BS will be in Portland next year, so if you liked what you saw you should come back out. :-)

Cheers, Scott

frailin - Posted - 11/15/2016:  07:24:32

I'm very sorry I didn't allow more time.  Would have LOVED to have been a part of that fun crowd!  

Such a great vibe you've got going on there!!  

BrendanD - Posted - 11/15/2016:  09:18:11

quote:

---

Originally posted by frailin

 

Welcoming committee.

I know that house - and that cat - well!

frailin - Posted - 11/15/2016:  15:33:18

Zany fun Canote Brother's teaser here.  

Or click on pic!

Love these guys.  

x

BrendanD - Posted - 11/17/2016:  03:07:18

Beautiful clip, Craig! You've captured their essence. Really makes me miss them!

frailin - Posted - 12/02/2016:  14:02:55

Day 2 of a 4-day filming trip (to GA and VA).  Wonderful stories!  

Got to spend some time in the banjo shop with Dean Robinson on Thursday.  

Good stuff happening here!

Good sounds came from this good stuff later on when wife Judy joined the music circle.  

The good sounds, vibes and stories continued in Dahlonega today (Friday) with John Grimm and Beverly Smith... this time around a warm stove with a hot cappuccino (thanks, Beverly)!  

The fun continues tomorrow with Erynn Marshall and Carl Jones.  On Sunday, it's James Leva.  Life is very good!  

Banjo Builders and Old-time Performers.  What a wonderful community we're all a part of.  

Delfield - Posted - 12/02/2016:  14:29:51

Dean and Judy Robinson are two of my favorite people.  Dean is a wonderful builder and they are both great musicians.  I feel lucky to be able to jam with them regularly here in Bryson City - where when the jam goes late and maybe a few too many ounces  have made it into our bellies, they mysteriously become Jean and Dudy every time.

Thanks Craig!

deanocraft - Posted - 12/04/2016:  08:53:39

Thanks for coming by, Craig! It was a pleasure talking banjos with you. Let us know if you are ever in town and looking to jam!

frailin - Posted - 12/04/2016:  12:04:39

Day 4 of 4.  Headed home... wonderful stories in the can! 

The streak continues!  On Saturday I spent a delightful morning with 2 of my favorite OT people: Erynn Marshall and Carl Jones.  

The stories were entertaining and warm, as was the discussion and music. And the hospitality was just icing on the cake.  

Erynn kept me stoked with delicious "Canadian" coffee (did you know they put maple syrup in it?  Makes the last few sips amazing!).  

A good time was had... you'll see.  

And today I met yet another hero of mine:  James Leva.  

James has added so much to the music!  Between the Free Will Savages, the Renegades, the Hellbenders and more configurations than I can recall (not to mention his solo work), he is constantly blending the old with the new.  Such energy!  

James is a blast to talk to... incredibly knowledgeable, articulate, animated and funny.  Of course, he does have a PhD in French Literature and he IS a Fulbright Scholar... one of FOUR now included in the OT Performer series - Count 'em!  Art Rosenbaum, Seth Swingle, Evie Ladin and James.  Isn't that amazing?  This OT community sure has its share of creatively gifted and scholarly folks.  

Our conversation could have easily gone on for hours.  But I had a plane to catch.  So I got what I could of James' incredible music history (wow... what a trip!).  

For the rest of '16 I'll be editing.  My goal is to ship Volume 5 (with these 12 amazing people) sometime in January.  

Stay tuned!   

Edited by - frailin on 12/04/2016 12:15:45

frailin - Posted - 12/16/2016:  11:42:55

Some smart/creative/talented folks in our circles.  

frailin - Posted - 01/09/2017:  10:41:12

1/9/17 Update

I'm delighted to report that Volume 5 is now with the DVD programmer! Once he's finished, it's on to duplication and then, shipping (still looking at the end of January)!

If you'd like to sample teasers of the shows on Volume 5, head over here: vimeo.com/frailinflix  or click on the pic below.  

More info at:  oldtimeperformers.com 

frailin - Posted - 01/13/2017:  08:11:30

A new website... one with links to ALL the Banjo Builder and Old-time Performer teaser/trailer/preview videos.  There are over 100 of 'em here.  Pour a cup of coffee before heading over.  :)

Click on pic or click here.  oldtimeconversations.com

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