Autumn Leaves

Posted by schwimbo, written by Joseph Kosma

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- Play count: 871

Size: 7,873kb, uploaded 6/20/2012 10:19:49 PM
Genre: Jazz / Playing Style: Other

I just improvised a banjo version of the jazz standard (without fingerpicks to get a mellower sound), and then added electric bass afterwards. It is kind of sloppy, and I mainly don't play jazz on the banjo, but thought I would put it out there anyway. I did record it without click track or any ProTools "fixing" (so maybe that could be a consideration against it being judged too harshly for the sloppyness factor). For some really great jazz banjo (in a traditional bop oriented style), listen to Tom Slavicek. His tunes were posted at Andrew Conde's hangout page, but since that page is non-functioning at present, I've re-posted them on my music page with Tom's permission.

Bill Emerson lick from Log Cabin in the Lane

Posted by schwimbo

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- Play count: 465

Size: 33kb, uploaded 11/9/2011 10:38:38 PM
Genre: Bluegrass / Playing Style: Bluegrass (Scruggs)

one measure from an Emerson and Waldron recording showing Bill Emerson's swung 8th feel (bouncy)

Blue John Mine

Posted by schwimbo, written by Ronnie Bowman / Don Rigsby

- Play count: 1187

Size: 6,252kb, uploaded 2/12/2008 7:12:41 AM
Genre: Bluegrass / Playing Style: Bluegrass (Scruggs)

Here's a version of the Ronnie Bowman / Don Rigsby song from a CD (with some tweaking by me) by then -12 year old Molly Adkins (the daughter of hot flatpicker Dale Adkins who produced the session). Jeff Smith plays mandolin, Suzanne Pearce plays bass, Kristen Grainger and Molly Adkins supply the vocals, and I play banjo.

Blues (banjo: Tom Slavicek)

Posted by schwimbo, written by Tom Slavicek

- Play count: 555

Size: 2,112kb, uploaded 8/8/2016 9:16:41 PM
Genre: Jazz / Playing Style: Other

Tom Slavicek lives near Montreal, but was raised in Czechoslovakia. He plays a 6 string banjo he built himself, similar to the kind Sonny Osborne played (with an extra low string - Tom tunes this string to an "A" note below the low "D" string). The piano was recorded by JP Zanella, a fine saxophone player from Montreal, though Tom said he did some editing of the piano accompaniment via MIDI. Tom sequenced the bass part and added the drums via MIDI. I'm posting this with permission from Tom.

Cherokee Shuffle

Posted by schwimbo

- Play count: 7028

Size: 3,809kb, uploaded 2/4/2007 4:56:38 AM
Genre: Bluegrass / Playing Style: Bluegrass (Scruggs)

from a recording done live in the studio here in Portland with Greg Clarke (mandolin), Morgan McNamara (guitar), Markie Sanders (bass), and myself on banjo

Deck the Halls

Posted by schwimbo

- Play count: 2105

Size: 1,963kb, uploaded 1/1/2007 6:25:14 AM
Genre: Traditional / Playing Style: Bluegrass (Scruggs)

another multi-tracked tune from an unfinished solo Christmas project (I need to do another 2 or 3 tunes to finish it and I got lazy).

Donna Lee (banjo: Tom Slavicek)

Posted by schwimbo, written by Miles Davis

- Play count: 325

Size: 3,755kb, uploaded 8/8/2016 9:40:10 PM
Genre: Jazz / Playing Style: Other

Tom Slavicek lives near Montreal, but was raised in Czechoslovakia. He plays a 6 string banjo he built himself, similar to the kind Sonny Osborne played (with an extra low string - Tom tunes this string to an "A" note below the low "D" string). The backing track was from a Hal Leonard play along recording. I'm posting this with permission from Tom.

Down in the Willow Garden

Posted by schwimbo

- Play count: 1153

Size: 3,410kb, uploaded 2/4/2007 5:18:42 AM
Genre: Traditional / Playing Style: Bluegrass (Scruggs)

Another song by the Smokey Mountain Band, from a recording done live in the studio here in Portland with Greg Clarke (mandolin), Morgan McNamara (guitar), Markie Sanders (bass), and myself on banjo. Tim Darby is added on this track playing dobro.

Dryland Farming

Posted by schwimbo, written by Chris Floyd

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- Play count: 120

Size: 4,338kb, uploaded 5/30/2019 4:17:28 PM
Genre: Bluegrass / Playing Style: Bluegrass (Scruggs)

Here is a recording from around 2011, which started as Chris Floyd's studio project, which had Chris on lead guitar, Dale Adkins on rhythm guitar, Suzanne Pearce on bass, Martin Stevens on fiddle, and Jered Widman on lead and tenor vocals. When the now defunct group Cedar Flats (with Chris Floyd on guitar, Jered Widman on bass, Tyler Lynn on mandolin, either Sam Weiss or Ellie Hakanson on fiddle, and me on banjo) decided to make a demo for getting gigs, etc, we took Chris's studio version and had Tyler and me substitute our mandolin and banjo playing for the studio version's original mando and banjo tracks. That is what you are hearing in this recording.

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Posted by schwimbo

- Play count: 435

Size: 2,754kb, uploaded 1/11/2010 3:42:49 AM
Genre: Traditional / Playing Style: Bluegrass (Scruggs)

This tune has been sitting in my computer as part of an unfinished Christmas CD. Since I am so good at procrastinating when it comes to finishing some projects, I figured I would just put the tune out for the public, since who knows when the CD will actually be finished. I multi-tracked all the instruments, in case you were wondering who to blame for what you are listening to.

Good King Wenceslas

Posted by schwimbo

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- Play count: 110

Size: 1,707kb, uploaded 12/14/2017 11:48:14 PM
Genre: Bluegrass / Playing Style: Bluegrass (Scruggs)

Here is a multitracked version of the old Christmas song, all parts played by me. I think I recorded it back in 2003.

guitar solo for Dat Dere (song by Bobby Timmons)

Written/Posted by schwimbo

- Play count: 200

Size: 1,592kb, uploaded 9/2/2011 12:28:24 AM
Genre: Jazz / Playing Style: Other

This isn't bluegrass, or banjo for that matter, but since people are discussing modes, etc., related to jazz and other music, I thought I would post a guitar solo I played for a soon to be releases CD by the Steve Hall Quintet (in which I play guitar). I am not as facile at playing jazz on the banjo, but can do it to some extent.

High Lonesome Sound

Posted by schwimbo, written by Vince Gill

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- Play count: 525

Size: 3,109kb, uploaded 2/17/2014 9:08:31 AM
Genre: Bluegrass / Playing Style: Bluegrass (Scruggs)

Here is a recording done in my living room with a just forming band made up of Jered Widman (guitar, lead vocal, tenor vocal on chorus), Jeff Smith (mandolin, lead vocal on chorus), Belinda Underwood (bass), Ellie Hakanson (she was not present for this recording), and myself on banjo. This was our second get together.

I'll Take the Blame

Posted by schwimbo

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- Play count: 215

Size: 4,349kb, uploaded 1/31/2016 12:50:33 AM
Genre: Bluegrass / Playing Style: Bluegrass (Scruggs)

Here is another song recorded by The Grass Station, with Jeff Smith on lead vocals and mandolin, Jered Widman on guitar and tenor vocals, Josh Adkins on bass and baritone vocals, Ellie Hakanson on fiddle, and myself on banjo. We recorded it in December at Dale Adkins' studio in Salem, OR. I did the mixing. If you know anybody booking bluegrass music events that is looking for bands to play, feel free to send out this demo (maybe we can get some work). Again, after receiving some comments from my fellow bandmates (in The Grass Station), I tried to fix some issues with the original mix, to make it more enjoyable to listen to, not that I'm saying the original version I posted was bad, but I'm trying to make it sound as good as possible (especially after hearing the comments and suggestions from the band, not that they hated the original mix, but it is good to keep everybody in the band happy).

Impressions (banjo: Tom Slavicek)

Posted by schwimbo, written by John Coltrane

- Play count: 215

Size: 3,239kb, uploaded 8/8/2016 9:22:12 PM
Genre: Jazz / Playing Style: Other

Tom Slavicek lives near Montreal, but was raised in Czechoslovakia. He plays a 6 string banjo he built himself, similar to the kind Sonny Osborne played (with an extra low string - Tom tunes this string to an "A" note below the low "D" string). The piano was recorded by JP Zanella, a fine saxophone player from Montreal, though Tom said he did some editing of the piano accompaniment via MIDI. Tom sequenced the bass part and added the drums via MIDI. I'm posting this with permission from Tom.

Jesse James

Posted by schwimbo

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- Play count: 305

Size: 2,199kb, uploaded 2/28/2012 11:38:36 PM
Genre: Bluegrass / Playing Style: Bluegrass (Scruggs)

demo of one day old Recording King RK-R36 banjo on old song

Joy to the World

Posted by schwimbo

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- Play count: 165

Size: 2,258kb, uploaded 12/10/2017 10:58:59 PM
Genre: Bluegrass / Playing Style: Bluegrass (Scruggs)

Here is a multitracked version of the song, all parts played by me. I think I recorded it back in 2004.

Lady Bird (banjo: Tom Slavicek)

Posted by schwimbo, written by Tadd Dameron

- Play count: 370

Size: 4,114kb, uploaded 8/8/2016 9:36:29 PM
Genre: Jazz / Playing Style: Other

Tom Slavicek lives near Montreal, but was raised in Czechoslovakia. He plays a 6 string banjo he built himself, similar to the kind Sonny Osborne played (with an extra low string - Tom tunes this string to an "A" note below the low "D" string). The backing track was from a Hal Leonard play along recording. I'm posting this with permission from Tom.

Little Maggie

Posted by schwimbo

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- Play count: 573

Size: 3,915kb, uploaded 6/19/2019 8:28:04 AM
Genre: Bluegrass / Playing Style: Bluegrass (Scruggs)

Here is a live recording of Jered Widman and The Grass Station, which (in this particular version of the group) features Jered on guitar and vocals, Zak Borden on mandolin, Amy Hakanson on fiddle, Delores Johnson on bass, and myself on banjo. It was recorded at a live concert this past February at the Multnomah Grange #71.

Little Maggie

Posted by schwimbo, written by Bill Emerson

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- Play count: 326

Size: 298kb, uploaded 4/30/2017 1:48:22 AM
Genre: Bluegrass / Playing Style: Bluegrass (Scruggs)

Here is a short and interesting section of one of Bill Emerson's breaks to Little Maggie on the Jimmy Martin album "Big Country Instrumentals"