Bostonians, you're in for a treat, if you can catch the Berkelee College of Music Faculty featuring John McGann and one of our favorites, The Wayfaring Strangers in town , 7:30 PM, March 30th at the David Friend Recital Hall on campus.

A spectacular evening of acoustic music, John will be joined by fellow faculty members violinist Matt Glaser, Larry Baione (guitar), Laszlo Gardony (piano), Dave Hollender (bass), Heather Masse, violin wunderkind Aaron Weinstein, as well as quartet members Jim Dalton (Boston Conservatory faculty, mandolin), Adam Larrabee (New England Conservatory faculty, mandocello) and current Berklee mandolin student Joe Walsh.

A little Django, and some of the best acoustic "roots" music on the planet!

Posted by Ted at 05:02 PM

February 26, 2006 | Camptown

Veteran Grisman Quintet sideman and (recent) solo artist Joe Craven and Blender Logic Arts are proud to announce the 10th Anniversary re-release of Joe's debut critically acclaimed recording Camptown.

Broad and deep on virtuosity, Craven's creativity and sense of humor never cease to both confound and titillate. JazzMando's introduction to this wild man's genius was with his most recent, "Django Latino," an outside-of-the-box mélange of two of our favorite jazz styles, South American (Latin) and French Gypsy jazz. Going back ten years to purchase this recent re-release (his first solo project) is a no-brainer...

Read: Reviews

Purchase: Camptown

Posted by Ted at 10:10 PM

February 23, 2006 | Paul Glasse Workshop

Paul Glasse Workshop, Tuesday, June 6th, Lincoln Nebraska!

Midwestern USA mandolinists are in for a treat when jazz mandolinist extraordinaire Paul Glasse appears in the capital city of the Cornhusker state for the regionally acclaimed Jazz in June Concert Series. Featured in the evening as guest soloist with the Nebraska Jazz Orchestra, Paul will give a morning workshop for the fortunate few who can take the day off to pick the brains of one of JazzMandodom's greatest living legends.

More details to come, but mark your calendars now, and ask the boss nicely for the day off!

Workshop sponsored by Rigel Instruments, and concert appearance supported and funded by JazzMando.com. with promotional considerations by mandolincafe.com.

Posted by Ted at 11:53 AM

February 14, 2006 | Chicago Tribune

"Once maligned, the mighty mandolin blazes comeback..." David Royko, Chicago Tribune columnist waxes poetic on the newly reinvigorated state of mandodom. Of course, the Windy City is the home of one of our favorite musicians, foremost Jazz Mandolinist Don Stiernberg.

Read the article:

Incidentally, there's another recording in the oven, yet another wonderful collaboration of "The Don" with premier guitarist, John Carlini, featuring this acoustic master's original compositions and more of Chicago's most prominent rhythm section.

Posted by Ted at 05:56 AM

February 11, 2006 | Paris Swing

It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that (Paris) Swing...

New from Paris Swing Mandolins, a whole line of instruments dedicated to the Gypsy Jazz mandolinist. We had a brief encounter with these at the winter NAMM show, not enough to get much play-testing, but the looks, feel, and marketing sensiblities open up a whole new experience for players wanting to experiment with this genre.

Designer Greg Rich has ingeniously captured a French, Django-esque vibe, a look and presentation that's ready to exploit an increasingly rabid interest in a fantastic string jazz world incubated east of the Atlantic in the 1920s and '30s. Three different models, from the wide mouth "Samois," to the Petite Bouche oval "Nuages," and a traditional "Parisian" F-hole. List Priced at $799.00 (with a street price even under that), these models will be a no-brainer acquisition to the serious player seeking an affordable "auxiliary" instrument.

Greg has also enlisted the assistance of Django wiz, John Jorgenson in this venture. Soon to be official, a proprietary Jorgenson signature model. (More on this later.)

Click for JazzMando exclusive picture: Greg Rich and the Jorgenson prototype

We're looking forward to working with the Paris Swing A & R folks to bring you an up close, hands-on review of this line very soon.

We're excited. We're "Pomped!"

Visit the new website: Paris Swing Mandolins

See an amazing video of John Jorgenson and the "Samois" in action: video

Posted by Ted at 10:39 AM

February 10, 2006 | Evan Marshall

"Speed is a by-product of control. Control is never a by-product of speed." Evan J. Marshall

One of the most enlightening mandolin clinics we attended was with Southern California based virtuoso, Evan Marshall. Known for his pyrotechnical pick prowess, arranging skills, and general showmanship, Marshall is a master at communicating concepts of Right-Hand control. He's also instrumental in advances in making the mandolin Duo Style approachable for the masses. (Pun intended...)

Not only a master performer and educator, Evan is a warm and genuine human being. His sense of humor is fun to be around, and betrays the radically intense discipline of his preparation and performance. If he's ever in your town for a workshop or live performance, he would be a "must see!"

Catch some mind-blowing video here: video

Check out the new Evan Marshall website.

Posted by Ted at 06:43 AM

February 06, 2006 | New Arrow

Nice Ukulele... Yeah, we get tired of the instrument ignorance out there; "Is that a little guitar?" or "Nice Uke..." No matter what though, even while slinging our revered but visually confounding 4-string "Jazzbo" from break-through luthier Paul Lestock, we know what great jazz music potential these terrific instruments harbor, and the mission of the site is equip you for this message, too.

Speaking of Paul, get a glimpse of the latest coming out of his shop this time around. A mix of 4, 5 and 8-string babies in different tonewood combinations: Red Spruce, Sitka, Alaska Yellow Cedar tops, Red maple, Bigleaf Maple, Myrtlewood and Black walnut backs and sides.

Click for eye candy.

Yum, yum...

Visit the Arrow Mandolin website.

Posted by Ted at 05:55 AM

February 03, 2006 | Reharm

Mel Bay's Feb. MandolinSessions.com articles are out, and if you've not been there before, you're in for a treat! Our entry this month is the first of a two-part series on reharmonization, maybe a few theory "tricks" useful to you in your improvisation or song-writing.

Read Article: Reharmonization Secrets

Of course, you want to check out the submissions of some of the leading mandolin authorities, and while you're at it, check out all the back issues. We've accumulated our own collection here: Mel Bay's Jazz Mandology.

Where else are you going to get this month's information from the world's leading mandolin print resource for free?

Posted by Ted at 06:10 AM

February 01, 2006 | Old Wave Mandola

Can you keep a secret? Yeah, well neither can we; here goes. We've enlisted the master craftsmanship of innovative veteran builder Bill Bussmann in designing the new Solocomp JM, Alto Guitar/ 4-string Jazz Mandola. While this is in the hopper, we're running through some Bach and some Jethro-esque chord melody on one of his terrific Old Wave Mandolas in preparation (and edge-of-the seat anticpation!).

We thought you might be interested in our opinion of one of Bill's masterpieces:

Read review

Posted by Ted at 09:24 AM