I bought a banjo.

[Roland]

You bought a banjo? Remind me not to come to your house.

Okay, don't come to my house.

 

[tonepoet]

Bel Fleck fans should listen to 'Strength in Numbers: The Telluride Sessions'. Good stuff.



Bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas, Edgar Meyer, Sam Bush and Mark O'Connor virtuosos all in my opinion.

Telluride Sessions - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Yes, this is where I first heard of Bela Fleck. I was in a little cabin on the shores of Lake Superior that had a little black & white portable TV. My brother and I were able to tune in a PBS station from somewhere and were watching a concert and thought "Wow, who are these guys?" When the credits rolled at the end of the program, we saw that it was Strength In Numbers and I bought it on vinyl back then. Good stuff !!

And Mark O'Connor I think I first heard when he was about 12 or younger.

 

[wileypickett]

Decades before Bela there was George Stavis, who issued one album (*Labyrinths*) on Vanguard in 1969. Amazing player in his own style. (He covers the John Coltrane version of “My Favorite Things” on the album. The rest are originals.)

He met Bela a few years ago — Bela’s response was, “OMG! You’re THE guy!”

Almost no one knows the album, but it’s a knockout.

 

[tonepoet]

Decades before Bela there was George Stavis, who issued one album (*Labyrinths*) on Vanguard in 1969. Amazing player in his own style. (He covers the John Coltrane version of “My Favorite Things” on the album. The rest are originals.)

He met Bela a few years ago — Bela’s response was, “OMG! You’re THE guy!”

Almost no one knows the album, but it’s a knockout.

I'll be on the look out for it, thanks !!

 

[wileypickett]

It was briefly reissued on CD in Japan, but otherwise you’ll have search Discogs or eBay for an original LP.

I’ve seen George live three times (shared a stage with him once) — always great.

And he has some amazing stories. Among other bands, he opened for the Grateful Dead a few times. Apparently Jerry Garcia was a fan.

 

[DrumBob]

Okay, don't come to my house.

Actually, I have a banjo too. It was my father's, a 1920s Vega Model M tenor. I thought about selling it, but haven't gotten around to it yet. I don't play it. God forbid.

 

[Roland]

Banjo update. I've had my banjo two weeks yesterday. As I said, I can do some rolls before I even got my hands on a banjo. I've been doing them on ukulele for years and just didn't know what they were called. The last two weeks have been learning chords and practicing chord changes. And the way I've always done that is to play songs. So for two weeks I've been doing some of the songs that get played regularly at our weekend country/bluegrass jam. Yesterday one of my fellow jammers came over to my house just to hang out and play music. I pulled out the banjo and gave it a go, just to see where I'm at after two weeks, just basic stuff. I'm not Earl Scruggs, but I kept up and decided this weekend it is trial by fire, I'm jamming with the banjo. I'll take my Guild of course, I don't want to leave it out of the action, but I'm stepping it up with the banjo. We will see what happens.

 

[tonepoet]

The best instructional book I have personal experience with is this Earl Scruggs book

 

[Roland]

I'm sure it is a good one, but I've already bought three books that I've been told are the best. I might eventually take some lessons though. My brother takes hammered dulcimer lessons from a guy that gives banjo and mandolin lessons as well. We'll have to see how serious I get about it.

 

[RBSinTo]

You bought a banjo? Remind me not to come to your house.

DrumBob,
I'm not a doctor, but I spoke to my wife who has a medical degree from The Google School of Medicine, and she told me that you are likely suffering from Scruggsophobia, which is defined as "an extreme dislike of Banjos and those who play them".
RBSinTo