Clifton Hicks - Posted - 05/15/2018:  16:18:17

A number of people have inquired with me about Mike Seeger's "Banjo Tales" film and field recording project that I participated in during 2008. Due to the sensitive nature of this subject (and the numerous parties involved) I have been reluctant to respond to your inquiries... until now. LINK to video



"Banjo Tales" on IMDB: imdb.com/title/tt2304499/



Aginsky: "We went to Virginia and filmed Tina Steffey, Rhoda Kemp, Debbie Grim Yates and Joe Ayers; Alabama for Robert Montgomery; Tennessee for Leroy Troy; West Virginia for Franklin George; North Carolina for Peter Gott, Jerry Adams, Justin Robinson, Marsha Bowman Todd, Riley Baugus, Rhiannon Giddens, Brien Fain and Trish Fore; and Kentucky for George Gibson, John Haywood, Jesse Wells, Brett Ratliff, Clifton Hicks, Jackie Helton and Matt Kinman, but not all of these musicians are in this version of the film which presents the banjo and old-time music as vital ingredients in southern culture." (Aginsky's film: vimeo.com/123457694)



CONTACT Smithsonian Folkways Recordings:

600 Maryland Ave., SW, Suite 2001

Washington, DC 20024 USA

Phone: 1-888-FOLKWAYS or 1-202-633-6450

Email: SmithsonianFolkways@si.edu



William Griffin: Licensing Manager

202.633.6457, GriffinW@si.edu



Meredith Holmgren: Program Manager

202.633.6459, HolmgrenM@si.edu



Helen Lindsay: Lead Customer Service Representative

202.633.6462, LindsayH@si.edu



Mary Monseur: Production Manager

202.633.6454, Monseur@si.edu



patreon.com/cliftonhicks

cliftonhicks.bandcamp.com

Edited by - Clifton Hicks on 05/16/2018 06:26:47

VIDEO: Banjo Tales with Mike Seeger (Smithsonian Folkways Recordings)
(click to view)

 

tucsonsean - Posted - 05/15/2018:  20:56:48

Clifton--Sounds like an interesting film, and, yes, it needs to be finished and aired.  What can we do to help?  Haven't seen even the 'pirate' version, but two names you mention jumped out at me for different reasons. First, Matt Kinman. He's not really a Kentucky musician, at least not originally. He played in an old-time band I led in Florence, SC, called "Larkspur." I got to know him pretty well. I think he told me he was originally from somewhere outside Tucson, AZ. (Ironically, that's where I eventually ended up.) He did a video series called 'Backporch of America,' or some such. Really very good. The other name was Jerry Adams. Jerry's gone now. He was, by training, a pharmacist. He was also one of the best (and most unsung) two-finger banjo players I've ever seen. He had a style all his own, and I was fortunate to have a week-long class with him at Mars Hill. BTW, if you see Matt, say 'hi' for me. Sean Coxe

Edited by - tucsonsean on 05/15/2018 21:08:36

Clifton Hicks - Posted - 05/16/2018:  06:35:48

quote:

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Originally posted by tucsonsean

Clifton--Sounds like an interesting film, and, yes, it needs to be finished and aired.  What can we do to help?  

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Sean, 

I am asking that anyone who's interested in this project (it's a video DVD and music CD set) cordially contact Smithsonian Folkways Recordings and express that to them. I will re-paste the main contact info below:

Phone: 1-888-FOLKWAYS or 1-202-633-6450

Email: SmithsonianFolkways@si.edu 

Emiel - Posted - 05/16/2018:  08:28:14

I would very much like to see that film. I love everything Mike Seeger did. Already in the 1970s I was listening to those New Lost City Ramblers records… I also very much enjoyed his projects "Southern Banjo Sounds" and "Early Southern Guitar Sounds".

Clifton Hicks - Posted - 05/16/2018:  10:08:21

quote:

---

Originally posted by Emiel

I would very much like to see that film. I love everything Mike Seeger did. Already in the 1970s I was listening to those New Lost City Ramblers records… I also very much enjoyed his projects "Southern Banjo Sounds" and "Early Southern Guitar Sounds".

---

Yes, his Southern Banjo Sounds was a big deal for me when I bought it as a kid, probably 15 years old. That and Conway's Black Banjo Songsters of Virginia and North Carolina, Banjer Days (compilation from Appalshop in Whitesburg, KY), Lomax's Deep River of Song series and, of course, George Gibson's absolutely stunning live album Last Possum Up the Tree were about the only recordings I would listen to as a teenager. Very, very influential to both my playing and general "world view."

Viper - Posted - 05/17/2018:  06:11:31

So, I emailed Smithsonian Folkways and everyone on that list above, and I actually received a response from Mary Monseur. I have copied it here, in full: 



Thank you for reaching out to Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.



The SFW project you’re referring to is called:



Just Around The Bend: Survival and Revival in Southern Banjo Styles. Mike Seeger’s Final Documentary.



It will be an oversized package with 2 audio CDs and one dvd (of Mike in the field recording and interviewing the artists). There will be a 6”x9” 80-page booklet with photos and extensive notes in the package.



The film Banjo Tales was made by Yasha Aginski with unused footage from his travels with Mike Seeger and released in 2012. I’m not sure where you can find it now. I found a link for the trailor it on this site:



vimeo.com/38655388



I don’t know if or where the film is available.



Banjo Tales is similar to the film that will be in our package (as it contains unused footage from Yasha’s trip with Mike) but it is not the same. The one in our package is longer and relates closely to the 2 CDs that will accompany it and features most of those artists.



We are hoping to release Just Around the Bend in The spring of 2019. We’ve had some difficulty clearing sync licenses with for the film. We’re very close to having them now.



Thanks for your interest. Stay tuned! Best, Mary M>



Mary Monseur / Production Manager / Smithsonian Folkways Recordings / 202.633.6454 / monseur@si.edu

She seems to say that Banjo Tales with Mike Seeger was released in some form, but this "Just Around the Bend" project sounds equally interesting. Just thought I'd share. 

Jimmy Sutton - Posted - 05/17/2018:  08:53:53

Good news Viper, thanks for sharing. I enquired around generally a year or so back re this project but got not one response. I didn't know then that the Smithsonian was involved.

Emiel - Posted - 05/17/2018:  09:54:27

I will certainly buy that.

Clifton Hicks - Posted - 05/17/2018:  11:59:09

quote:

---

Originally posted by Viper

So, I emailed Smithsonian Folkways and everyone on that list above, and I actually received a response from Mary Monseur. 

Good work, Viper! That is some of the best news I've heard in ten years. I consider myself greatly indebted to yourself and everyone who contacted Folkways expressing interest in Mike Seeger's final field recordings.

In all seriousness, our country needs this music now more than ever. Fingers crossed for 2019! 

raharris - Posted - 05/18/2018:  13:00:00

Thank you, Viper

sig1965 - Posted - 05/18/2018:  13:13:50

Thanks Detective Viper. Excited.

Viper - Posted - 05/21/2018:  10:08:45

Happy I could help in some small way. I also got a reply from the generic Smithsonian Folkways email address with no name attached that said they had heard from many people who were interested in the project, so good job to everyone who inquired.

tonehead - Posted - 05/25/2018:  07:18:26

Thanks for sharing this. It really is an important piece of work. I'm looking forward to the release.
I shared the Vimeo video with my family - basically to explain to them why I love this music so much.
( They like it too- just in smaller doses) =)

kingfisher500 - Posted - 06/19/2018:  17:54:02

quote:

---

Originally posted by Clifton Hicks

quote:

---

Originally posted by Viper

So, I emailed Smithsonian Folkways and everyone on that list above, and I actually received a response from Mary Monseur. 

Good work, Viper! That is some of the best news I've heard in ten years. I consider myself greatly indebted to yourself and everyone who contacted Folkways expressing interest in Mike Seeger's final field recordings.

In all seriousness, our country needs this music now more than ever. Fingers crossed for 2019! 

---

So, while we wait for the full video and CD package, if anyone wants to see Banjo Tales, which runs 57 minutes, you can see it on Vimeo here:

<vimeo.com/123457694>

Edited by - kingfisher500 on 06/19/2018 17:54:44