NPR recently ran a story called “Double-Blind Violin Test: Can You Pick The Strad?” about how a research team gathered 17 professional violinists in a hotel room, with 6 violins —two Stradivarius, one Guaneri (another vintage Italian violin maker), and three modern instruments. They were invited to play, and then identify which were the old instruments. They wore dark goggles and so couldn't see which violin was which. Of the players asked to identify the old Italian violins, seven said they couldn't, seven got it wrong, and only three got it right. And when the players were asked which violins they'd like to take home, almost two-thirds chose a violin that turned out to be new. You can listen to, or read, this story at www.npr.org; search for “npr The Strad”. Seems like someone should do a similar experiment with a dozen banjo players and a couple of pre-war Gibsons along with a few banjos of more recent vintage.
Correction: In the January issue, the Peaches and Cream tab (page 5) says “Key of G, G tuning: gDGBD”; it should have said: Key of C, G tuning: gDGBD.
Banjo builder Jimmy Cox has published “Five On Five: From Kentucky to Maine,” a memoir as told to Dev Devereux—the story of Jimmy's banjo-building career spanning 50 years, including countless banjos and parts that found their way all over the world. Jimmy has long maintained that he made virtually all the parts for his banjos, with the exception of the tuners, heads and metal castings. As he states: “I was raised in poverty on a farm in southeastern Kentucky where I learned to play Bluegrass. I joined the Air Force and was stationed in Maine, where I live today. I am one of the pioneers of Bluegrass, and I believe I was the first 5-string player from the south to settle in Maine.” For more info, go to www.coxbanjos.com
Mel Bay has published “Wade Ward: Clawhammer Banjo Master” by BNL contributors Bob Carlin and Dan Levenson, the second book in their series of transcriptions from master players. The 23 tunes in the book represent the most common tunes played by Ward. There are two tabs of each tune: the first transcribed by Bob Carlin from Wade's playing, and the second written by Dan Levenson and reflecting modern methods of getting Wade's sound. The accompanying CD gives examples of the tabs. We'll have more about this book in the near future.
Recordings: “Sketches” by Butch Robins' Imagicnation [sic] was released last year, from Flat Five Recording (www.flat5.com). The band consists of Robins on banjo, along with drums, mandolin, bass and vocals. They are basically a jam band, heavy on the funk, blues and jazz, and their repertoire includes a handful of covers (Lady Madonna, Cross Roads, White Freightliner Blues, Sittin on Top of the World, Sailor's Hornpipe) along with some interesting originals. I especially enjoyed Twelve O'Clock, Eh Sonny, and the sultry Latin-tinged Zocaca Bossa. Butch's playing, which has always been heavily melodic, is crisp, bright and inspired throughout. (As for the band's name, Robins fans may remember Butch's 1990 Rounder release, “Fragments of My Imagination,” which also included Twelve O'Clock….)
Janna Kim is the 24-year-old singer and banjo player in the Uzbekistan rock band Cross-Section. Mason Williams sent us her CD, “Forthcoming Legend,” whre she plays Williams's Classical Gas (and does a good job too), along with Foggy Mt. Breakdown, Whiskey in the Jar, Dooley, and several songs in Russian. She has only been playing banjo for a few years, but she seems to have developed, with the help of friends over the internet, fairly quickly. Janna suspects she is the only banjo player in Uzbekistan, and people don't quite understand why she is so crazy about the instrument. “America always was my favorite country,” she explained. “When I play banjo, I feel like I have come into the Old Wild West where I can see cowboys, horses and saloons. I like American folk music so much. It is very romantic.” For more info, and to donate to get Janna a Nechville banjo, go to www.banjocrazy.com/articles/jannadonate.shtml
Banjo player Jeff Scroggins sounds great on the new release with his band Colorado. As Terry Baucom writes, “Jeff is an accomplished player that can skillfully deliver banjo styles ranging from Scruggs and Reno to the most contemporary. I truly appreciate Jeff's approach to the banjo and think music fans will enjoy this project very much—I sure have!” For more info go to www.jeffscrogginsandcolorado.com
Old-Time: Darren M. Jahn has released “While I Have Being,” consisting of a dozen original tunes that Jahn performs solo on a banjo made by Patrick “Doc” Huff. The recording is crystal clear and the banjo sounds wonderful; Jahn's tunes aren't all exactly old-time, but more like clawhammer meditations, steeped in solitude and perhaps loneliness. I was especially taken by Stand Upon. For more info go to http://darrenjahn.com
Frank Necessary passed away on Dec. 15, 2011. Frank was one of the first generation of bluegrass banjo players, and also a Don Reno stylist. We interviewed him in June, 1986. Necessary was leader or co-leader of many bluegrass bands over the years, including the Stone Mountain Boys, and the Spruce Mt. Boys.
—Donald Nitchie
