Posted by Ryan Cavanaugh on Saturday, January 26, 2013
For those of you who may not know, I moved to New York City about 8 months ago. After nearly 5 years in Nashville, a lot of great music, some good hangs with Bela Fleck, a couple jams with Nedski, and a few tour runs with Sam Bush (filling in for Scott Vestal), I decided I needed to explore other musical environments. As with many artists, I want to give my music the opportunity to evolve based on my environment. Nashville did some wonderful things for the way I look at the banjo, how I want it to sound, and how a sound will affect an audience; but as always, there is a time to move on. My next step has always been New York. I was born near it, my family came to Ellis Island in the early 1900's with banjos, I mixed and recorded 2 records in the City, and It's a place I've wanted to be for a long time.
I've been introduced to many new things here in New York, but mostly the availability of listening to a live version of almost any music from around the world, as well as their many fusions, almost any night of the week. This place breeds creative forms of music, good and bad. I'm especially enjoying watching the evolution of the Mumford and Son's spin-offs and the urban folk movement spurred by them and bands alike. The jazz scene is also being taken in new directions by many young artists with one foot in the past and another in the future. I'm thoroughly enjoying my entry into the mix.
I'm looking forward to breaking some genre boundaries of where the banjo can go. There are some new sounds and sonic territory, as well as techniques, and composition that I plan to touch on and experiment with here in NY. This is a great opportunity to invent new styles of music and to explore even more :)
I'll try and keep the interested up to date... Thanks for reading! bla bla bla...
7 comments on “New York City?”
dbrooks Says:
Saturday, January 26, 2013 @2:27:02 PM
A very interesting post, Ryan. Your enthusiasm for your new environment and new direction comes right through. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us. I look forward to enjoying some of the fruits of this new part of your journeys.
Ryan Cavanaugh Says:
Saturday, January 26, 2013 @2:45:57 PM
Thanks! I edited my post a little bit ;) Glad someone got to read the pre-edited version! lol
Wes Lassiter Says:
Saturday, January 26, 2013 @3:34:33 PM
You certainly are hitting new heights with the banjo Ryan. I love listening to your playing you are for sure one of the most innovative creative musicians I have ever met.
Banjophobic Says:
Monday, February 4, 2013 @7:20:17 AM
I know you'll 'eat' the big apple too Ryan. Its definitely a great city for the arts. NYC will be better musically now that you are a part of it.
JAFO Says:
Saturday, April 6, 2013 @4:54:42 AM
Hey Ry, I only just caught this. Obviously we've seen each other since you wrote this, but I just wanted to comment that I'm glad to see you are settled in and taking the most from the experience. We both know that the City can take a lot from a person and be a tough place to live.
Of course you know that you always have the crew up here to come hang with when you need a break and we love seeing you.
Talk to you soon bro.
Tom
Goldstarman Says:
Thursday, October 3, 2013 @7:13:02 PM
Hope NY is treating you well, cant wait to get some instruction and start learning some stuff from one of the greats in banjo.
MrNatch3L Says:
Wednesday, November 13, 2013 @4:53:23 AM
Must be going OK. Really enjoyed seeing you in Saint Petersburg last night with Bill Evans (the jazz saxophonist, not the banjo player). That was a very hot band. Loved the "Take a Load Off" arrangement. I think seeing a banjo did kind of raise the eyebrows of the Jazz Philharmonic crowd... seeing it in a context other than Dixieland is real different. They came around more on 2nd set - possibly because the sound out front got better. Anyway, good to see and hear some killer banjo in this town!
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