Rounder Banjo

Rounder Banjo

Track Listings

1. Runaround - J.D. Crowe

2. Shelton Special - Allen Shelton

3. Old Timey Risin' Damp - Alan O'Bryant

4. Foggy Mountain Chimes - Herb Pedersen

5. Banjo Boy Chimes - Alan Munde

6. Clinging Vine - Bill Keith

7. Don't Mean Maybe - John Hickman

8. Maple Leaf Rag - Johnnie Whisnant

9. Five Speed - Richard Underwood

10. Banjo Picking Girl - Lamar Grier

11. Lonesome Road Blues - Paul Silvius

12. Scapin' Out on the Roof - John Hartford

13. Chamoix Cornu - Marty Cutler

14. Huckling the Berries - Peter Wernick

15. Robot Plane Flies over Arkansas - Tony Trischka

16. Harley's Breakdown - Harley Bray

17. House of David Blues - Snuffy Jenkins

18. Dream Dance - William J. Ball

19. Perplexed - Béla Fleck

20. Thunderhead - Joe Drumright

See all 24 tracks on this disc

Rounder Banjo,Various Artists,Rounder Select,80's,Banjo,Bluegrass,Bluegrass-Gospel,Contemporary Bluegrass,Country,Folk,Instrumental Country,Neo-Traditional Folk,New Traditionalist,Old-Timey,Pop,Progressive Bluegrass,Progressive Country,String Bands,Traditional Bluegrass

Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular
Average customer rating:

Snappy, innovative album with pyrotechnic five-string duets

Banjo Rules

Escher's Waltz

I was a grinnin' while they were a pickin'.

Steve Martin does it again!

Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular
Tony Trischka
Manufacturer: Rounder / Umgd
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Country | Styles | Music
General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music
Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music
General | Folk | Styles | Music
Rounder Records | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Quartet

Instrumentals

The Enchantment

Foggy Mountain Banjo

The Best of Flatt and Scruggs TV Show, Vol. 1

ASIN: B000KG4BOK
Release Date: 2007-01-23

Tracks:

Farewell Bllues
Bon Aqua Blues
Fox On The Run
Twilight Kingdom
Run Mountain
Escher's Waltz
Doggy Salt
The Crow
Ivory Toad Of Catalan
Arcadia
Old Cane Pole
Live And Let Live
Armando's Children
Plunkin' Rag

Amazon.com

How much banjo can one fan stand? This release should delight those five-string aficionados for whom too much plunk is never enough. Veteran virtuoso Tony Trischka enlists the services of fellow banjoists ranging from seminal inspirations (Earl Scruggs) to pupils and acolytes (Béla Fleck, Alison Brown) to wild cards (comedian Steve Martin) for a series of duets supported by stellar bluegrass musicians such as Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, and members of Union Station. Most of the tracks are instrumentals, though Dudley Connelly provides vocals on traditional bluegrass standards such as "Fox on the Run" and "Live and Let Live," with Nickel Creek mandolinist Chris Thile and frequent duo partner Michael Davis teaming for harmonies on "Run Mountain." The musical interplay throughout is predictably superb, but the three cuts pairing Trischka with Fleck suggest that another extended teaming of mentor and prized student would truly be something special. --Don McLeese

Album Description

Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular marks acclaimed banjo innovator Tony Trischka's return to acoustic bluegrass terrain - with a unique twist. Joined by a luminous roster of fellow five-stringers, Trischka travels down the rarely-explored avenue of full-band two-banjo bluegrass. Trischka's innate gifts as a musician and arranger, coupled with his unrivaled knowledge of banjo history and technique, ensure that the performances on Double Banjo are both provocative and tasteful, ranging from tightly-reigned and harmonious to spacious and exploratory. Classically styled and dynamic, yet still finding new ways to expand timeless traditions, Double Banjo is bluegrass as only Tony Trischka can envision it.

Featured banjo players include Earl Scruggs, Steve Martin, BÃ©la Fleck, Alison Brown, Tom Adams, Bill Emerson, Kenny Ingram, Scott Vestal, and Noam Pikelny, performing alongside Chris Thile, Dudley Connell, Tony Rice, Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, Ron Stewart, Michael Daves, and more.

"A great CD! Fine picking!" -Earl Scruggs

"Tony's jovial wit and deep love of the banjo and acoustic music has infected and lifted me many times. Always a trailblazer, Tony plays the banjo like Tony Trischka. And many other people around the world would love to do the same." -Jerry Douglas

"Wow what a CD. For banjo lovers everywhere a Tony Trischka recording is high on the list of acquisitions. When you check out the list of players who join Tony on this project you realize that it is a must have. Get it right now so you can start enjoying it immediately." -Jorma Kaukonen

"I've known Tony Trischka for a long time, and I've always admired his inventiveness. Wherever he goes musically, he always keeps it interesting - and when it comes to bluegrass, he's got a right hand that just won't quit!" -Del McCoury

"I don't give out blurbs anymore!" -Steve Martin

Customer Reviews:

Snappy, innovative album with pyrotechnic five-string duets .......2007-07-15

Playing Time - 57:14 -- Are you a bluegrass fan who just can't get enough banjo? Then this is just the snappy and innovative album for you. Pyrotechnic five-string duets performed with excellent accompaniment are on the menu of Tony Trischka's "Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular." Originally from New York, Tony began picking the banjo in 1963 at age 14. One of his students, Bela Fleck, is also prominently featured on this project as both a player and tunewriter. The other nimble-fingered banjo-players in the duets include Earl Scruggs, Steve Martin, Alison Brown, Tom Adams, Scott Vestal, Noam Pikelny, Kenny Ingram and Bill Emerson. Quick-paced romps give way to bright and breezy grooves with all of the standard bluegrass instruments getting a piece of the action. The guitar breaks from David Grier, Kenny Smith and Tony Rice are especially noteworthy, although I found it interesting that Grier's were isolated rather far right in the stereo mix. A few vocal bluegrass numbers provide some changes in the disc's overall musical mood. Dudley Connell sings lead on "Fox on the Run" and "Live and Let Live." Lou Reid or Sally Love provide some backing vocals. Michael Daves sings on "Run Mountain."

At almost nine minutes in length, Twilight Kingdom begins with melodious interplay between Trischka and Fleck before being infused with added hustle four minutes into the piece that is one of six songs that Trischka wrote or co-wrote on the project. They also collaborate on the project's leanest arrangement, "Armando's Children," written by Bela. From the repertoire of Jim Eanes and The Shenandoah Boys, the album closes with Steve Martin and Tony Trischka in the drivers' seats for "Plunkin' Rag" (aka "Ridin' the Waves") in which the two pickers provide harmony with their Scruggs tuners. Don't try that at home without the ability to overdub! This is a top notch, expressive production that shows how much adoration the banjo is deserving of. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)

Banjo Rules.......2007-06-08

This cd has the best selection of banjo songs out there, as well as different styles played by different artists. This cd includes Earl Scruggs playing Farewell Blues, Tom Adams playing Fox on the Run, Bela Fleck playing Twilight Harbor, and many more. Definitely buy.

Escher's Waltz.......2007-06-05

Escher's Waltz----Amazing. Loved the whole album.
This guy has it all. Love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was a grinnin' while they were a pickin'........2007-05-30

I saw Steve Martin on the Dave Letterman show and was stunned at how well he played the banjo. It was a selection from this CD which Steve had written. I immediately ordered the CD and have enjoyed it almost daily since it arrived. If you like banjo pickin', this is as close to heaven as it gets. Tony was Bela Fleck's mentor and I had seen Bela Fleck live and immediately bought his CD. This has some real talent. Enjoy.

Steve Martin does it again!.......2007-05-25

Great upbeat bluegrass! Steve Martin is the reason I bought this CD, but the other performances are also top notch!

Average customer rating:

solo banjo at its best?!?
the boys doing what they do best

Solo Banjo Works
Tony Trischka , and Bela Fleck
Manufacturer: Rounder / Umgd
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Country | Styles | Music

General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Bluegrass Jam Bands | Jam Bands | Rock | Styles | Music

Rounder Records | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular
Fiddle Tunes for Banjo
Inroads
Perpetual Motion
Natural Bridge

ASIN: B0000002IG
Release Date: 1992-07-15

Tracks:

Ruben's Wah Wah
2Fourteen
Liberec
Free Improvisation #2
Assunta
Old Joe Clark/June Apple
Max And Gus
Beaumont Rag
Kingfisher's Wing
Earl Scruggs Medley (Nashville Skyline Rag/Ground Speed/Shucking the Corn)
Jeff Davis Medley (Jeff Davis/Fort Monroe/Danville Days)
Yaha Yaha
Beatles Medley (I Feel Fine/Here, There and Everywhere/Eleanor Rigby/I'm a Loser...
The Rings Of Saturn
Green Willis/Whiskey Before Breakfast
Killer Bees On Caffeine
Oma And Opa
Solaris
Flapperette/Red Pepper-Spicy Rag
Triplet Fever
Bach Violin Partita In D Minor (BWV 1004)
Did You Ever Meet Gary Owen, Uncle Joe?
Middle Eastern Medley (Improv/Hilmi Rit/George and Gladys Kazatski)
Twisted Teen

Customer Reviews:

solo banjo at its best?!?.......2001-05-08

The way I see it, this album (right up there with Foggy Mountain Banjo) is an absolute must for 5-string banjo players of the 3 finger style. These two masters, whose playing has influenced each other as well as pickers worldwide, take the "twangy, one-dimensional instrument for hillbillies" from classical to klesmer, celtic to pyschadelic. Of course, they show off their mastery of the scruggs, single string, and melodic styles... but perhaps more impressive is the way "Solo Banjo Works" demonstrates the vast creativity and ingenuity of these two artists. Also, the album is as versatile as the virtuosos prove the instrument to be... it works in the car, at work, etc... (although, to be honest, i haven't tried the bedroom)

Buy it!

the boys doing what they do best.......2000-06-12

everytime you hear bela fleck playing banjo is exciting, but classic bela fleck is stripped down banjo. eventhough this is a banjo no strings attached album, the wide variety of arrangements in the songs make it more excitng. the beatles medley and the interpretations of bach show the true universal musical spirit of bela, not forgetting the wonderful playing of tony. this album mkes a great companion with the new bluegrass sessions.

Average customer rating:

the bluegrass summitt
Banjo Summit
lots of fun

Fiddle Tunes for Banjo
Tony Trischka w , and Keith & Fleck
Manufacturer: Rounder Select
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Country | Styles | Music

General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music

Bluegrass | Compilations | Country | Styles | Music

General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

Traditional | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Rounder Records | Specialty Stores | Music

General | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Bluegrass | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Something Auld, Something Newgrass, Something Borrowed, Something Bluegrass
Solo Banjo Works
Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular
Inroads
Foggy Mountain Banjo

ASIN: B00001R3IS
Release Date: 1999-10-26

Tracks:

Bill Cheatham - Tony Trischka/Bill Keith/Bela Fleck
Dust On The Needle/Paddy Kelly's Jig - Tony Trischka
Fiddler's Dream - Bela Fleck
Barbara's Waltz - Bela Fleck
Salty - Bela Fleck
Clinging Vine - Bill Keith
Black Mountain Rag - Tony Trischka
John Hardy - Tony Trischka/Bill Keith/Bela Fleck
Mead Mountain Blues - Bill Keith
Vanished - Tony Trischka
Silverbell - Bela Fleck
Christina's Jig/Plain Brown Jig - Bela Fleck
Jolly Waffle Man - Bill Keith
Old Sandy River Belle - Tony Trischka
Panhandle Country - Bill Keith
Salt Creek - Tony Trischka/Bill Keith/Bela Fleck

Customer Reviews:

the bluegrass summitt.......2003-09-01

Okay, so a gathering of three generations of banjo wizards may not excite the way a summit of say, John Coltrane, Miles Davis and Charles Mingus might have. But the intent - to shake up the tradition of their form - is no less relevant. Celebrated in circles as diverse as bluegrass and progressive jazz, Fleck, Keith and Trischka take bawdy delight twisting these 16 traditional fiddle arrangements to suit the pick and pluck of their Appalachian, Irish and urban/mountain styles. Accompanied variously by fiddle, mandolin and bass, the three veteran players alternate between collaboration (Bill Cheatham, Salt Creek, John Hardy) and soloing with a rotating door of backing musicians (Dust On the Needle, Paddy Kelly's Jig, Silverbell, Mead Mountain Blues, Salty). It's a perfect combination, either as an alternative for fans of bluegrass or a great starting point for anybody interested in having at least one of these albums in the collection. This should be it.

Banjo Summit.......2003-07-02

Bill Keith's breakthrough melodic picking style opened the door to more accurate banjo interpretation of traditional fiddle tunes, a fact not lost on two of his younger disciples, Tony Trishka and Bela Fleck. The collection of songs included on "Fiddle Tunes for Banjo" is a fascinating study of these three picking masters circa 1981 as each of them applies his stamp to a terrific collection of tunes.

The opening cut, "Bill Cheatham," (the only actual collaboration among the boys on this CD) offers the first glimpse of stylistic contrast - after a triple harmony reading of the song, Keith, Fleck, and Trishka individually romp through a verse each before joining force again for a really cool tag-line exit. From there, it's one delight after another - Bela's high-wire act (and astonishing guitar-picking) on "Fiddler's Dream", Keith's wonderful pentatonic-scale work on "Clinging Vine," and Tony's modal invention on "Vanished" are but a few of the many highlights to this marvelous effort. I rank this effort with Scrugg's "Foggy Mountain Banjo" as a "must have" for the serious banjo picker, particularly one who is a fan of applying fiddle tunes to the 5-string.

lots of fun.......2000-08-10

This is a very good album of fiddle tunes that was recorded by three banjo greats--bela fleck, bill keith, and tony trischka. If you like fiddle tunes you should buy this.

Average customer rating:

Early & Obscure , but First Class Fleck
Chick Corea & Fats Waller

Daybreak
Béla Fleck
Manufacturer: Rounder / Umgd
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Country | Styles | Music

General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Jazz Fusion | Jazz | Styles | Music

Bluegrass Jam Bands | Jam Bands | Rock | Styles | Music

Rounder Records | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Inroads
Natural Bridge
Places
Deviation
Crossing the Tracks

ASIN: B0000003M5
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Texas Barbeque
Spain
Twilight
Reading in the Dark
Growling Old Man and the Grumbling Old Woman
How Can You Face Me Now
Bill Cheatham
Christinas Jig/Plain Brown Jug
Silverbell
Fiddler's Dream
Daybreak
Dawg's Due
Flexibility
Old Hickory Waltz
Crossfire
Applebutter
The Natural Bridge Suite
Punchdrunk

Customer Reviews:

Early & Obscure , but First Class Fleck .......2006-08-28

Whenever I press a Bela Fleck disc into a friend's hand, I and ask them to listen to it,because Fleck is a virtuoso, a master of his instrument. Over the years, Bela Fleck continued to incorporate various styles into his recordings. 1988's `Daybreak' gives you a taste of how well-versed he is in playing other musical genres.

Bela stays faithful to his NewGrass style on `Texas Barbeque', `Twilight`, `Reading in the Dark', `Applebutter', `Dawg's Due' (a David Grisman tune); `Crossfire', and `Punchdrunk'.

There are jazz tunes: Spain'-- a few bars into it you'll recognize this Chic Corea favorite; and a honky-tonk version of Fats Waller's `How Can You Face Me Now' (with vocal).

This would not be a Bela Fleck disc few without a traditional bluegrass melody. This disc has several: `Bill Cheatham' featuring Bill Keith and Bela in a banjo duet; a joyful, bouncy version of `Silverbell` and a NewGrass-y version of `Fiddler's Dream'.

He also throws in a few Celtic songs---- 'Growling Old Man and the Grumbling Old Woman' and 'Christina's Jig/Plain Brown Jug'

For fans of his later `jazzgrass' sound with the Flecktones, `Daybreak', `Flexibility', `Old Hickory Waltz' and `The Natural Bridge Suite' (reminiscent of Stephane Grappelli/Django Rheinhart) won't disappoint.

If you'd like to hear more examples of Fleck's virtuosity, catch his Grammy-winning recording of classical music, 'Perpetual Motion'.
Perpetual Motion

Chick Corea & Fats Waller.......2002-08-26

The first half of this album was recorded when Fleck was a punk kid in his early 20's. Recordings of Chick Corea's "Spain" and Fats Waller's "How Can You Face Me Now" will make you a Fleck fan for life. Then sprinkle in some Grisman like "Dawg's Due", and you have a CD that will be in your heavy rotation for some time. Merging bluegrass, jazz, fusion, irish music (Christina's Jig/Plain Brown Jig): don't be afraid, just buy it. Bill Keith on banjo, Sam Bush on fiddle, come on how many more reasons does this thing need to get 5 stars?

Average customer rating:

Let the banjer ring
And now, the Larch...
A must for traditional music lovers

Minstrel Banjo Style
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Rounder Select
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Old-Time Country | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music

General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Rounder Records | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

The Early Minstrel Show
A History of the Minstrel Show
Demons of Disorder: Early Blackface Minstrels and their World (Cambridge Studies in American Theatre and Drama)
Behind the Burnt Cork Mask: Early Blackface Minstrelsy and Antebellum American Popular Culture (Music in American Life)
Black Banjo Songsters of North Carolina and Virginia

ASIN: B0000002M7
Release Date: 1994-10-25

Tracks:

Whoop Jamboree - Joe Ayers
Essence Of Old Virginny - Joe Ayers
Sylphides Mazurka - Joe Ayers
Peeping Through De Cellar Door - Joe Ayers
Medley: Bully For All/St. Patrick's Day (Irish Jigs) - Joe Ayers
Whoop Jamboree Reprise - Joe Ayers
Medley: Hobson's Jig/Briggs Corn Shucking Jig - Clarke Buehling
White Cat, Black Cat - Clarke Buehling
Medley: Green Corn/Oh, What's De Matter, Suse Ann? - Clarke Buehling
Anthony Street Reel - Clarke Buehling
Clare De Kitchen - Clarke Buehling
Medley: Whelpley's Jig/Buckey's Jig - Bob Winans
Medley: Johnny Boker/Matt Peel's Walk Around - Bob Winans
Medley: Phil Issac's Jig/Raccoon Jig - Bob Winans
Medley: Briggs Jig/Briggs Reel - Bob Winans
Medley: Harper's Jig/Kentucky Juba - Bob Flesher
Jim Along Josie - Bob Flesher
Medley: Rumsey's Jig/Modoc Reel - Bob Flesher
Oh, I'se So Wicked - Bob Flesher
Medley: Alabama Joe/Alabama Walk Around - Bob Flesher
Medley: Phil Rice's Excelsior Jig/John Diamond Walk Around - Bob Carlin
Richmond Am A Hard Road To Travel - Bob Carlin
Medley: Devil's Dream/Darkey Money Musk/Mrs. McLeod's Reel - Bob Carlin
Slave Narrative/Juba - Tony Trischka
Medley: Operatic Jig/Roast Beef - Tony Trischka
Yankee Doodle - Tony Trischka
New Your March - Tony Trischka
Medley: Git Up In De Mornin/ Sebastopol Breakdown - Tony Trischka

Customer Reviews:

Let the banjer ring.......2004-02-07

This cd is a collection of tunes and gourd and/or hoop banjos being played by some of the best musicians in this genre... Joe Ayers, Clarke Buehling, Bob Winans, Bob Flesher, Bob Carlin, and Tony Trischka.

First of all, I will say that I had the opposite reaction to the inclusion of the lyrics/burlesque tunes. All too often in America, history is white-washed. Minstrelsy is something that most of White America is no longer aware of. If by chance an unaware person does stumble upon this cd (or others like it), to not include the uglier tunes would be to change history and present a false picture of reality to that person. There is already the white tendency to think hey, slavery and Jim Crow weren't THAT bad. To stamp the name "minstrel" on a cd and then omit all the ugly lyrics and stereotypes that were at the very heart of minstrelsy would be one more way for White America to be misled by itself. It'd be like teaching America's middle and upper-class children American History while giving them little or no understanding of the evolving, brutal history of race relations in this country. Woops! We already do that. The truth of American history is that it's an ugly, painful history. No one learns anything by having all the uglier moments forgotten, deleted, or politically-corrected out of the collective consciousness of the ruling class.

I've long been of the opinion that there are too few "story" tunes on this cd, but being that the title and emphasis is specifically on the banjo playing styles, I understand why there are only a few of these songs represented. Lyrically, there are absolutely more hate-filled minstrel tunes out there than those presented here, but you can still come away from this cd with a bit of an understanding of the mockery and buffoonery that was a cornerstone of minstrelsy. Oh I'se So Wicked is lyrically the heaviest tune of this disc, what with the slave character being beaten but stating that she deserves it because "I'se so very wicked". White America should remember that for us white people, minstrelsy was the most long-lasting form of mass-entertainment this country has yet seen.

This is a great disc, filled with excellent tunes and banjo playing. The recording quality is very high and the various tones of these great old and replica banjos are a joy to hear. When you hear the full-bodied, resonant tones of the old gourd and hoop-styles banjos, you (or at least I) can't help but wonder why so many people moved to the Gibson Mastertone sound. Aside from in the hands of Dock Boggs and a handful of others, the Mastertone sound is thoroughly inferior to the gourd and hoop tones. That African resonance is gone from the Mastertone sound, while it is in full bloom on the gourd and hoop replicas.

And now, the Larch..........2001-04-17

What posessed me to buy this CD? What on earth was I thinking?

I don't know, frankly, but I'm glad I did. While it doesn't tell a story the way it's genre-mate, the soundtrack to Ken Burn's Civil War, did, it does set a time and a place effectively.

The few vocal tracks are a little hard to stomach. I understand the history of the music just fine, but I still think the aural picture of modern day white men singing in this manner is more akin to performing in blackface than they may realize. There is no intent to mock or insult in this recording, but there is still something a bit odd about a 21st Century white man from a gentrified area of Virginia singing "I thought she was g'wanna kiss me when she took and pulled my nose" in some...uh...rural accent.

Call me picky.

Still, I like the CD. Recording it is important, listening to it is enjoyable.

A must for traditional music lovers.......1998-08-01

A brilliant collection of some of the nation's top minstrel banjo players performing period pieces on period instruments. Delightful and entertaining even for those who might not be inclined to purchase a "banjo" CD and sure to be an inspiration to those looking for an alternative to bluegrass. Truly addictive for those with a predisposition.

Something Auld, Something Newgrass, Something Borrowed, Something Bluegrass

Average customer rating:

One of the masters
A Must for Any Aspiring Banjo Picker . . .
glad i PICKED this one up

Something Auld, Something Newgrass, Something Borrowed, Something Bluegrass
Bill Keith
Manufacturer: Rounder Select
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Country | Styles | Music

General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Rounder Records | Specialty Stores | Music

General | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Bluegrass | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Fiddle Tunes for Banjo
J.D. Crowe & The New South
Foggy Mountain Banjo
Things in Life
At Carnegie Hall!

ASIN: B000005YVE
Release Date: 1998-04-07

Tracks:

No Expectations
Green Mountain Hop
I'll Stay Around
Crazy Creek
Pain in My Heart
Farewell Blues
Caravan
Detour
Sugarfoot Rag
Jordu
Rickett's Hornpipe
Auld Lang Syne

Amazon.com

The banjo innovator has rarely recorded as a leader, but his impressive work has backed everyone from Bill Monroe and Frank Wakefield to Jim Kweskin, Jonathan Edwards, and Judy Collins. This 1976 reissue marks a pinnacle in new acoustic music, thanks to a diverse repertoire, a contagious excitement, expert associates, and of course, Keith's revolutionary melodic banjo technique. David Grisman, Tony Rice, Vassar Clements, Ken Kosek, and Jim Rooney propel the music as Keith rolls from bluegrass staples to Duke Ellington to the Rolling Stones to folk and jazz traditionals to bebop. He even celebrates two of Nashville's greatest (and most underappreciated) sidemen with readings of Hank Garland's "Sugarfoot Rag" and Tommy Jackson's "Crazy Creek." Both are perfect examples of why he developed his unique banjo style in the first place--to successfully interpret intricate and fast-paced fiddle tunes. Incidentally, by introducing Grisman to Rice, this session gave birth to the first incarnation of the David Grisman Quintet. --Marc Greilsamer

Customer Reviews:

One of the masters.......2002-07-08

Bill Keith was one of the innovators of the so-called "melodic style" of banjo playing. Where Scruggs used a three-finger pattern of arpeggios that track the tune, Keith actually plays the tune in intricate runs. The result is something Scruggs never dreamed of, though Scruggs is, of course, *the* master of his own style.

Bill Keith was a member of Bill Monroe's band many yers ago, so he knows bluegrass. But the most interesting cuts on this disc are the hornpipes and other fiddle tunes that Bill Keith re-created on the banjo. Crazy Creek is a wonderful banjo tune when Keith does it. I would have given this recording 5 stars if Devil's Dream and couple other favorites had been included.

There is not a lot of Bill Keith marterial easily available now, so this is a good chance to pick up one of the real pioneers in 5-string banjo music.

Bill is still on the summer bluegrass festival circuit. You should catch him if you can.

A Must for Any Aspiring Banjo Picker . . ........2001-04-28

Amazingly, there's not a lot of recorded evidence of Bill Keith's revolutionary melodic banjo stylings available. This collection was released in the mid-70's, long after his short stint with Bill Monroe and not so long after the ground-breaking "Muleskinner" recording with David Grisman, Peter Rowan, Richard Green and the late Clarence White.

"Something Old . . ." is a warm, accessible effort that shows off Bill's trademark melodic picking ("Crazy Creek", "Sugarfoot Rag"), his jazz influences ("Caravan", "Jordu"), and his understanding of Scrugg's style picking ("Farewell Blues") - all done with a remarkable balance of flash and taste. The backup band is anyone's dream - Tony Rice on guitar (his solos on "Crazy Creek" and "Farewell Blues" helped set the standard for modern "newgrass" picking), the aforementioned Grisman, fiddlin' genius Vassar Clemments, and the (then) Seldom Scene's redoubtable bassist Tom Gray.

So why only four stars? While the vocal w!ork of Jim Rooney and Al Jones is OK, I'm still astonished to this day that Bill did not utilize Rice (at the time one of the great new voices in the genre) on any cut. (This would be roughly akin to having Pavarotti beat tambourine with the Three Tenors).

That aside, any bluegrass fan will find this worth a listen, and banjo players will find a lot of ideas to mine.

glad i PICKED this one up.......1999-07-02

I like all the tunes. Lots of great players. Fun to hear No Expectations, and Auld Lang Syne.

Tracks:

Devil's Dream
Tally Ho!
Boatin' Up Sandy
Granny Went To Meeting With Her Old Shoes On
John Hardy
Roll On, Buddy, Roll On
Rippling Water
Down The River, Oh Yes
Red Lick
Walking In The Parlor
Wild Bill Jones
Heathen Ridge Stomp/Mama's Breakdown
Hot Corn
Swannanoa Mountain
Blackeyed Susie
Forked Deer
Little Boy Working On The Road
Johnny Inch Along
Stackolee
Sugar In The Gourd
Lonesome Road Blues
Cripple Creek/Susanna
John Hery
Hallelujah, I'm A Bum
Home Sweet Home
Rocky Mountain Goat
Everybody's Favorite
Sourwood Mountain
The Darker The Nights
Soldier's Joy
The Blind Man's Lament
Callahan
Young Edward
Turkey In The Straw
Hawk's Got A Chicken And Gone
Chicken Reel
State Rock
The Fun's All Over

Customer Reviews:

A Must Have Collection!.......2003-12-15

This is my all time favourite collection of banjo music. It features some really sweet sounding banjo. A few different playing styles are used by the various musicians, such as rapping or knocking, otherwise known as clawhammer, two and three finger styles and 'guitar style'. Standout performances by Earl Thomas, Blanche Coldiron, Bert Garvin, Travis Wells and Vernon and Zora Judd make this an album that all Banjo players should hear. Other recommendations are the North Carolina Banjo Collection and for those interested in historic recordings, Black Banjo Songsters of North Carolina and Virgina.

OLD TIME YES, CLAWHAMMER STYLE LESS THAN 50%.......2003-07-18

The clawhammer style of playing banjo is associated with Old Time music, but this is not a totally clawhammer style recording. this is not knocking the recording, it's filled with very good tunes and performances; but if you are looking for an all clawhammer style recording, keep looking. i'd say less than 50% of the tunes are played in clawhammer. there are a lot of two and three finger style represented here as well. a recommendation for a great all clawhammer style recording try Bob Carlin's Bangin' & Sawin'.

This is a great album.......2001-09-19

If you like old-time banjo, get this one. It's the best banjo album I own.
There are lots of songs and they're almost all great.
My particular favorites are Blanche Coldiron's "Lonesome Road Blues" and Roscoe Holcomb's "Swannona Mountain."

Average customer rating:

I love this CD!
What a sound!
Foggy Mountain Banjo Version 2.0
Banjo At Its Best
Amazing...bluegrass and beyond

Adams County Banjo
Tom Adams
Manufacturer: Rounder Select
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Country | Styles | Music

General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music

General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

Traditional | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Rounder Records | Specialty Stores | Music

General | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Bluegrass | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music

General | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Right Hand Man
Live at the Ragged Edge
31 Banjo Favorites, Vol. 1
Foggy Mountain Banjo
Hide Head Blues

ASIN: B00005OW6G
Release Date: 2001-11-06

Tracks:

Ginny Whitt's
Box Elder Beetles
Funky Mountain Special
Sawmill Shuffle
Three Sailors From Dublin
Farmer John
John Henry
Santa Cruz
Worried Man Blues
The Village Bear
Brushy Creek
Alice Chickabee
Lowlands Of Holland
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
Lock, Stock And Barrel

Customer Reviews:

I love this CD!.......2007-07-11

This is a terrific CD from an amazing banjo player. There's not a bad track on it, but my personal favorites are the Sailors from Dublin, the Village Bear, and, of course, Box Elder Beetles. But they're all great, and this CD is a sure bet to put you in a good mood -- with music like this in the world, what could be wrong?

What a sound!.......2004-11-12

Great CD. Tom Adams banjo picking has so much energy. As a beginning banjo player, this particular CD gives me the incentives to keep practicing learning to play bluegrass banjo. Tom Adams will the most influenced banjo player for me. I stomp my feet every time I listen to his music.

Foggy Mountain Banjo Version 2.0.......2003-08-29

Just as Earl did not include "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" on his "Foggy Mountain Banjo" CD, Tom did not include "Adams County Breakdown" on his "Adams County Banjo" CD. Banjo conspiracy or bizarre twist of fate?...you decide. In any case, this is one CD that will not disappoint. Tom Adams has a rare and amazing sense of timing, accuracy and taste which puts new fire into old tunes John Henry and Worried Man Blues, as well as making new tunes like Box Elder Beetles and Ginny Whitt's sound great.

Banjo At Its Best.......2002-05-21

Tom Adams has been the banjo player for many of the top acts in bluegrass music including Jimmy Martin, The Johnson Mountain Boys, Lynn Morris, Rhonda Vincent and Blue Highway. And this CD shows why he has been able to land these jobs.

The tempo of this project moves from mid-paced to faster-paced but is fabulous throughout. The people that help out on this CD attest to Tom's brilliance. Sam Bush, Rock Ickes, Shawn lane, Ron Stewart, Stuart Duncan, Alison Krauss, David McLaughlin, Lynn Morris, Bryan Sutton and Marshall Wilborn round out the excellent picking presented here. It is seldom that I rate an instrumental project with 5 stars as vocals are such an important part of a song, but this CD has earned all five as an outstanding banjo project.

With songs in both the bluegrass and celtic mode he shows versitility. He wrote the majority of the songs here has once again proven himself very capable. With songs written for his 17 year old dog and his daughter he touches home.

This is a great follow up the "Right Hand Man" (excellent in itself) and worthy of a purchase rather than a listen. If you do not own it, it can be harde to listen more than once. Buy it and enjoy it! Banjo at its best!

Amazing...bluegrass and beyond.......2002-02-26

This is an amazing CD from an amazing banjo player. Tom plays bluegrass, Irish melodies, newgrass and everything in between. The melodies stay with you and so does the artist's incredible skill.

Average customer rating:

Worth It If You Like Old Time Appalachian Banjo Music
Essential for Every Banjo Player

North Carolina Banjo Collection
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Rounder Select
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Contemporary Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

General | Blues | Styles | Music

Traditional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

Cowboy | Country | Styles | Music

General | Country | Styles | Music

Old-Time Country | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music

General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music

General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

Traditional | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Compilations | Folk | Styles | Music

Appalachian | North America | International | Styles | Music

Rounder Records | Specialty Stores | Music

General | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Kentucky Old-Time Banjo
Old Time Mountain Banjo
Black Banjo Songsters of North Carolina and Virginia
Music From The Lost Provinces: Old-Time Stringbands From Ashe County, North Carolina & Vicinity 1927-1931
Mountain Music Of Kentucky [2-CD Set]

ASIN: B000005YVM
Release Date: 1998-03-10

Tracks:

Georgia Buck - Odell Thompson
Corinna - Babe Reid
Going Down The Road Feeling Bad - Etta Baker
Low Baked A Hoe Cake - Libba Cotten
Snow A Little, Rain A Little - John Snipes
Fox Chase - Dink Roberts
Going To Write Me A Letter - Ola Belle Reed
The Worried Blues - Samantha Bumgarner
Mr. Garfield - Bascom Lamar Lunsford
Cleveland's Marching To The White House - Bertie Dickens
The Old Doctor That Fell In The Well - Marvin Gaster
Hello Coon - Walter Raleigh Babson
Sugar Babe - Scotty Wiseman
Reuben's Train - Doc Watson
Rambling Hobo - Gaither Carlton
Cumberland Gap - Frank Proffit
Roustabout - Fred Cockerham
Cotton Eyed Joe - Stella Kimble
John Henry - Tommy Jarrell
Lost Indian - Kyle Creed
Cripple Creek - Charlie Lowe
Under The Double Eagle - Carlie Marion

Tracks:

Blue Ridge Mountain Home - Glenn Davis
Little Log Cab In The Lane - Kelly Sears
Royal Clog - Ernest Helton
Arkansas Traveler/Old Back Joe/Sweetheart, Would You Care? - Clay Everhart
Babtist Shout - Frank Jenkins
American And Spanish Fandango - Smith And Allgood
Shuffle, Feet, Shuffle - Fisher Hendley
Missouri Waltz - J.G. & Jerry Waye Britt
Italian Waltz - Carl Nance
There'll Come A Time - Charlie Poole
The Man Who Wrote 'Home Sweet Home' Never Was A Married Man - Mack Woolbright
Cotton Mill Blues - Wilmer Watts
Come Bathe In That Beautiful Pool - Dock Walsh
Biscuits - Arnold Watson
Whoa, Mule, Whoa - Hobbie Whitener
I Left My Old Home In The Mountains - George Pegram
Short Life And Its Trouble - Wade Mainer
Nancy Rowland - Snuffy Jenkins
Railroad - A.C. Overton
The Nut Medley: Chinquapin Hunting/Acorn Hill Breakdown - Carroll Best

Customer Reviews:

Worth It If You Like Old Time Appalachian Banjo Music.......2005-07-31

When I first started learning to play the banjo I really didn't know too much about it, I didn't know any one else who played, and had to teach myself (not as hard as it sounds already knowing how to play guitar). At first I started learning bluegrass and 'melodic' clawhammer but it wasn't terribly satisfying and I gave up for about a year. Then I decided to persue some other types of playing which were far more satisfying to play for my own enjoyment. This is the first CD where I really found the style of music I wanted to play. It is known as 'Old Time' banjo. 'Old Time' banjo itself encompases a wide range of styles, some geographically specific, but it is mostly based on the classic 'clawhammer' technique. That's it for the banjo lesson, now for the CD review. Nice music. It's a half/half mix of newer recordings which are nice and clear, and older historical recordings which have poor sound quality. Still, it suited my purpose very well. Of particular interest to me were the follwing performers: Etta Baker, Marvin Gaster, Bertie Dickens, Kelly Sears, Snuffy Jenkins and A.C. Overton. There are other good tunes on here but the abovementioned are my favourites. I also own Kentucky Old Time Banjo (see my review) and Black Banjo Songsters Of North Carolina and Virgina (see my review). In order of enjoyability (is that a real word?) this CD ranks second behind Kentucky Old Time Banjo and better than Black Banjo Songsters etc. . If you're a fan of old time banjo, pick this CD up, it's well worth it. If you're interested in learning old time banjo I suggest you buy at least this and Kentucky Banjo.

Essential for Every Banjo Player.......2005-04-27

Every banjoist ought to have these CDs. Then again, everyone ought to become a banjoist, or at least one in every home. The selections form a nice picture of the history and development of banjo playing in one of the most banjoeyed areas of the country, North Carolina.

Master banjoist, producer, folklorist, and fashion plate Bob Carlin provides a very serious set of notes and introduction to the CDs and a very nice order to help illustrate the history. Like his books on music--I would recommend his recent book on Carolina Piedmont string bands in which one can see pictures of many of the performers on these CDs and follow the changing context of the music--Carlin tries to present the most information, the most music, and let it talk, without drawing too many conclusions and conjecturs. He has the mark of a man who knows that when you really know something, you know how little we all know.

The first six tunes on the first side are special to me, as Carlin begins with six African American banjo players from North Carolina. They are first, even though the earliest one of these recordings was made in teh 1950s, as part of a statement about the African American origins of the banjo in general, but also of North Carolina banjoing in both clawhammer and finger styles. I particularly love the work here by Dink Roberts, my favorite banjo player.

While the clawhammer and other down picking word on the first CD are important to my ears and my style, I am most impressed with the recordings of finger picking styles on the second CD. I haven't seen or heard much of that kind of banjo playing before. Current old time music banjoists tend to be pretty glued to clawhammer. If they do finger styles it is often the older more archaic styles favored by Dock Boggs or Charlie Poole. Yet, on the second CD we see the rise in both virtuosity and musicality and countriness and bluesiness of finger style banjo in the Carolinas starting from work that was just beyond that of the 19th Century Classic banjoists, to work that was ready for the next step, taken by a Carolina banjoist named Earl Scruggs: BLUEGRASS.

As I have said, this CD set is nice wonderful and listenable music like all banjo music. I realize I might be prejudiced being a man who has gotten 4 banjos in the last 5 years. But then if you listen to this, you might get prejudiced too and get you a banjo or two!

I Sang Through the Fairs - The Alan Lomax Portait Series

Average customer rating:

Essential Irish.

I Sang Through the Fairs - The Alan Lomax Portait Series
Margaret Barry
Manufacturer: Rounder Select
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

British Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Irish Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Celtic Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | International | Styles | Music

General | Celtic | International | Styles | Music

Rounder Records | Specialty Stores | Music

General | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Her Mantle So Green
The Queen Among the Heather: The Alan Lomax Portait Series
Blue Ridge Legacy - The Alan Lomax Portait Series

ASIN: B00000AFDH
Release Date: 2001-11-13

Tracks:

My Lagan Love
The Factory Girl
Me Mother Is Dying
The Galway Shawl (Oranmore)
Breakdown
Kneening, Diddling, And Lillabies
She Moved Through The Fair (Our Wedding Day0
I Sang Through The Fairs
The Blarney Stone
Moses Ritoora-Li-Ay
Let Mr. Maguire Sit Down
The Bard Of Armagh
Ballyjamesduff
Eileen McMahon/Green Grow The Rushes
Her Mantle So Green
Going To Mass Last Sunday
Lovin' Hanna
Gra Machree
The Flower Of Sweet Strabane
When You're Fond Of Music
She Moved Through The Fair
And There's Music Comming Into My Head
The Strayaway Child
Her Mantle So green

Amazon.com

Alan Lomax on recording traditional singers such as Margaret Barry: "There arises an intimacy close to love." And so too might we describe listening to this collection, the definitive portrait of the nomadic Irish balladeer and banjo player whose life was song and song alone. Barry's vocal style--deep lamentation transfused with tremendous vigor--was honed in the streets and pubs of Dublin and the whole of Ireland, where she drifted, much as her family of travelers did, regaling and busking for anyone who'd listen. She can sing with a deep, muscular slur, and then shift to a tingling softness--her command of vocal registers is awesome. Barry's repertoire combines familiar material such as "She Moved Through the Fair" (Barry helped make such songs standards during the British folk revival) with more obscure lyrics, songs that might be forgotten were it not for her. Don't turn to this collection for easy Celtic pleasantries: the raw, poetic soul will stun you. --Roy Kasten

Customer Reviews:

Essential Irish........2003-02-04

The tracks are remastered and sound rather good considering the source tapes. Almost as entertaining as the music, are the interview tracks with Maggie herself. This Portrait Series is a beautifully done compilation, complete with an informative booklet and brilliant photos.

As for the music on the disc, it's pure, raw and true. Bare bones banjo playing accompanies a voice that comes from deep within that woman's soul. Critics love to compare such heartfelt singing to Janis Joplin, but she even doesn't compare to Margaret Barry.

Highly recommended.

Music Review: