The Glory-Beaming Banjo

Prior to his death in August 2009, Mike Seeger had been working on a documentary project, recording banjo players throughout North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Alabama and Tennessee. He became ill before he could finish the project. Ten years later, Seeger's final work is at last seeing the light of day. Released in September by Smithsonian Folkways, Just Around the Bend: Survival and Revival in Southern Banjo Sounds — Mike Seeger's Last Documentary includes a 110-minute DVD, two CDs and an 80-page booklet. The documentary was directed by Yasha Aginsky, who accompanied Seeger on the project. The CDs were compiled by Bob Carlin and include 19 banjo players that Seeger interviewed and recorded during the summer of 2009. Seeger sought to document different banjo styles, including variations of clawhammer and up-picking. He also chose players with a wide range of experience and age. Seeger also aimed to represent women and African American banjo players, th

You know the book. Here's the vinyl edition! Not too long ago I spotted this gem in the “new arrivals” used bins at my local record shop for $8. I couldn't pass it up. The cover alone was worth it. Pete Seeger (1919-2014) self-published the first edition of How to Play the 5-String Banjo , the foundational banjo instructional book, in 1948. He recorded this complementary album for Folkways Records in 1954. The record comes with a foldout pamphlet, reprinting some of the information found in Seeger's book, plus a transcript of the album and musical notation. You can download the pamphlet for free at the Smithsonian Folkways website . ( Smithsonian purchased Folkways from founder Moses Asch in 1987.) On the album Seeger provides examples of basic tunings, strums and techniques such as hammer-ons and pull-offs and other aspects of playing. He also talks about various styles, such double-thumbing, frailing, three-finger picking, as well as playing blues, jazz, Spanis

Steady as she goes. That was the name of the game these past three months. I maintained my pace toward my yearly playing goals on fiddle and banjo. I learned "Mississippi Sawyer" on fiddle and "Sloop John B." on banjo. I attended two local festivals and arranged a one-on-one jam session to keep up with my "playing with others" goal. I posted twice a month on this blog, which is at least consistent if not up to last year's standard-bearer. All in all, it was a steady third quarter. On the fiddle, I played 50 hours this quarter and feel pretty happy with "Mississippi Sawyer." I've worked out a couple variations, and I even tried it out in a jam at one of the festivals I attended this year. I've also continued to work on "Possum on a Rail." Next up is the good old chestnut, "Old Joe Clark." I also had written down "June Apple" in my notes. Depending on how well "Old Joe Clark" comes along, I ma