Hot enough for you? Physicist and amateur mandolinist, Debbie Harris reports in her Quantum Diaries Blog last year, slinging a mandolin on a July trip to her visit her grandparents Florida home. Seems a little mandolinning is high on her list for enduring the seasonal Southeastern inferno. Packing for the airport, it's the limit-one carry-on dilemma, "Mandolin? Laptop?"

Both.

Not ready to drink the Kool Aid of Al Gore's latest cinematic sky-is-falling grandstanding, but it is hotter than normal this Summer here in the midwestern US plains. No Porch Picking for a while, we're heading the the basement.

The good news? Our freshly-crisped lawn means one extra hour of playing; mowing gets a reprieve, at least for this week!

Posted by Ted at 06:10 AM

July 29, 2006 | Hamilton de Holanda: Brasilianos Review

Many witnessed in awe this Spring and Summer the magnificent skills of Brazilian bandolimist Hamilton de Holanda in the west (U.S.) coast, and in Florida. (We had him booked here in the Cornhusker state with Mike Marshall in March, but the concert fell through due to scheduling conflicts.)

We've got some very nice things to say about his new (3rd) release "Brasilianos" and eagerly await his duet CD "New Words" with Mike Marshall, which is in final mix stage (release October '06).

Newly posted on the JazzMando artist Spotlight section is our review of Brasilianos.

Read review: Brasilianos

Posted by Ted at 06:17 AM

July 28, 2006 | Cool Mandolin Changes

Cool Mandolin Company has recently modified its website to make it easier for everyone to view. For those uninitiated to "Cool," what started out as the quest for a "hip" mandolin shirt has become a new mandolin apparel and poster line, Cool Mandolin Company.

As one of JazzMando's valued sponsors, this enterprize shares a common charter, investing proceeds and retail profits back into perpetuating the thrill of mandolinning. "The ultimate goal of the company, once we pay our rent, is to be able to provide mandolin scholarship funding. We hope to accomplish this through the sale of "hip" mandolin-related shirts, hats, posters, etc. The best things in life have to be shared," chimes Laura Leder, founder of Cool Mandolin Company.

The site features great music by Andrew Collins, as well as a gallery of the next generation of "mandolin legends".

Visit Website or click on this and one of the many important Spotlight sponsor graphics below.

Posted by Ted at 05:36 AM

July 27, 2006 | Strapping on the Ritz

Checking in with design innovator and mastercraftsman Michael Lewis. His affinity and expertise in guitar archtop design helped him pioneer his Ritz Series "D'Jango," a magnificent ax, bold in form and lush with tone. See our Spotlight review Lewis D'Jango.

Michael has been involved and visible with on-site instrument repairs at California area festivals since 1983. He is a service center for the Martin Guitar Co. and operates a full service repair shop at his home near Grass Valley. Intensely in demand with his repairs, he's hoping to make a push to make more instruments this coming year.

Currently the repair side has overwhelmed his shop, nearly stopping the production of his world-class new instruments. He tells us he hopes to discipline himself, dividing into 3 days of making new stuff and 3 days of repair, and one day off for around the home things.

We certainly hope so! The renowned "King of Clean" is responsible for some of the most amazingly detailed instruments crafted today. Check out his site for some incredible mandolin Eye Candy.

Read archived Mandolin Sessions interview.

Posted by Ted at 06:58 AM

July 25, 2006 | Century Strings

JazzMando welcomes new advertiser, Century Strings. Introduced at Summer NAMM in Austin, Texas, their Draleon series gypsy mandolins were the hit of the show. We celebrate companies like Century Strings, willing to develop instruments and products for the special needs of the jazz mandolin enthusiast.

The brainchild of industry veteran Gordon Roberts, former Eastman Strings pioneer and product developer, Roberts has teamed up with Alex Fan who brings his own 12 years experience working with some of the finest violin and bow makers in Asia and Europe in producing these instruments. Guitars and mandolins combining the Selmer "Gypsy" jazz tradition with modern arch-top construction, these offer a whole new level of professional playability in an amazingly affordable price level. (Mandolin MSRP at $1495!)

Look for these instruments to hit the streets (and coffeehouses!) in August. A review here, soon!

Website: Century Strings

More pictures: Draleon Mandolins

Posted by Ted at 06:12 AM

July 24, 2006 | Czech Invasion: Stonebridge Mandolins

Most of the attention to import mandolins here in the US has been on the flood of instruments from the Orient. Oft overlooked is the incredible value and craftsmanship out of the Czech republic. Frantisek Furch is a builder of very high quality acoustic guitars and mandolins located there. His "Stonebridge" line, opened in 1981 has been highly sought after in Europe and Japan, and is only now being discovered in North America and other parts of the world.

We talked with representatives at the Summer NAMM show in Austin, Texas, after spending a few minutes trying their 23-SF Florentine and 22-CM A-body models. Fit and finish were terrific and sound quite impressive.

Dealer network is being established already through Canada, and eventually some US dealers. The name "Stonebridge" comes from the Charles Bridge in Prague, built in the 1300's, an important landmark in the Czech region. Before it was officially named, in honor of their beloved king who had commissioned it’s construction, it was simply known as the "Stone bridge".

Visit website

Posted by Ted at 10:42 AM

July 21, 2006 | West goes East to bring South

News from L.A. area jazz and choro specialist, Ted Falcon about a collaboration with his Choro ensemble, August 23rd in Manhattan. At Joe's Pub, CD Release Party in NYC--Choro Ensemble featuring Ted Falcon. (Memorias do Brasil in NYC!) This will be a special night with the amazing Choro Ensemble of New York.

Joe's Pub, 425 Lafayette Street, NYC, NY 10003
1 set at 7:00pm (reservations recommended)

Ted tells us "These guys have played Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center---They are a serious choro group that play break-neck tempos and impovise at a level beyond any choro group I've seen. Their clarinet player Anat Cohen is ridiculous!"

TICKETS & INFO:
To purchase tickets, call Telecharge at 212-239-6200 or www.telecharge.com for most Joe's Pub events. You may also buy tickets in person at The Public Theater box office, or call Joe's Pub at 212-539-8778 to make a show and dinner reservation.

More performance information

Posted by Ted at 06:31 AM

July 20, 2006 | Patton Pending

Enjoying the Will Patton interview in the latest (Summer 2006) issue of Mandolin Magazine. Will is a different breed of mando player, not hailing from the traditional folk/bluegrass heritage, and it shows in his rebel approach to fingerings and improvisation. He jokes "I was raised by wolves" when it comes to technique, but it's apparent in his playing he knows how to get the job done.

Especially interesting is his compositional approach to creating his incredibly lyric melodies. From the David McCarty interview, "I get a lot of ideas in the car, and I live in the outskirts of a mountain range with lots of hiking trails, so many ideas come to me there. I may hear a tune as a full-blown piece or I may develop as I walk along. When I get home, I write it down immediately on staff paper before I lose it and not even pull out an instrument. Then I may pull out the bass to get a groove going. My last step is going to the mandolin to play the darn thing."

Will's music is infectiously lyrical, the sort of tune you can't get out of your head. (You don't want to, either!) All three of Will's CDs are stellar productions and should be standard issue in the library of any aspiring jazz mandolinist.

View artist website

Subscribe to (quarterly) Mandolin Magazine

Posted by Ted at 06:11 AM

July 17, 2006 | Austin NAMM

Back from the Summer NAMM show in Austin, Tx. Out of the frying pan (100+ degrees) and into the well... frying pan. (Home, 100+ degrees). Represented well in Mandodom were Collings, Weber, Paris Swing, Garrison, Michael Kelly, Alvarez, and a couple Newbies, Stonebridge (from the Czech region) and Century Strings new Draleon series Gypsy Jazz Mandolins.

You're going to hear a whole lot more from us about the latter, as we were very impressed. Fit and finish amazing for the price, reminiscent in design of the world-class Michael Lewis Django model Mandolin, these instruments are a new breed of affordable tone-makers for those wanting to dabble in gypsy jazz, or just looking for a new world of crisp, sustaining mandolin sonority.

Former Eastman guitar and mandolin pioneer Gordon Roberts has introduced the world to a whole new level of approachability in premium sound and playability with this rising-star company, Century Strings.

View more NAMM pictures at the MandolinCafe website.

View Draleon in action

Look for a review soon.

(If we can put the instrument down long enough to be able to type anything...)

Posted by Ted at 10:58 PM

July 13, 2006 | Retratos do Brasil

Fresh off the press from Ted Falcon, Retratos do Brasil, a book with CD containing 21 new Choro transcriptions and 10 original compositions published independently.The project has been developed from several years of personal study of Choro music.

Falcon maintains the best way to understand and learn about the music is to transcribe, note for note, the recordings of the masters. Geared towards mandolinists, the book uncovers the secrets of rhythm, harmony, melody and the concepts of improvisation within this rich style of this music.

The book is is available from Elderly instruments: Retratos do Brasil

View cover

Posted by Ted at 02:05 PM

July 12, 2006 | Mann 4

The latest from Tennessee builder, Jonathon Mann, a dynamic 4-string electric beautifully curved and 'bursted top, complete with signature neck-through back. We've been watching this young talent for several years now. He continues to gain notoriety as he masters the subtle nuances of fine electric and acoustic mandolins.

Check out his offerings. We're especially captivated by his electrics.

View image

Posted by Ted at 06:08 AM

July 10, 2006 | Trio Madeira Brasil

Not sure what is more captivating, the beautifully artistic videography of the Trio Madeira Brasil in this online quicktime video, or the amazing performance itself. Directed and filmed by Dudu Miranda and directed and edited by Ricardo Mehedff, this showcase of the world-class Brazilian talent was a pleasant surprise recently introduced to us by Lothar Landenberger of Germany.

English translation of the Trio Madeira Brasil website

Click on the video link top center of the page for "Santa Morena"

More about the trio: TMB

Posted by Ted at 06:03 AM

July 08, 2006 | New Wheels

Django's Cadillac, the Pacific Northwest's Gypsy/Choro/Klezmer string band treasure has wowed us once again with their fresh off the press CD, second release "New Wheels." It's hard to believe any string band would want to tackle Dave Brubek's ground-breaking "Blue Rondo ala Turk," but these guys do it with style and conviction.

Of course, it isn't all esoteric jazz, aside from the cerebral musical sophistication; they've got some toe-tapping infectious rhythms, assisted by the West Coast Multi-instrumental percussion of Joe Craven . Throw in some soulful, stirring ballad standards with the help of the vocals of Kat Cogswell and clarinetist Dennis Williams, and you have a recipe guaranteed to satisfy.

Doesn't hurt that two of the players, Williams and Hulett use Arrow instruments, mandolin and guitar, respectively. Paul Lestock's stringed wonders record as well as they play.

Read our review.

Purchase information

Posted by Ted at 06:19 AM

July 06, 2006 | King of Strings

New from Arbors Records, Jay Geils, Gerry Beaudoin and the King of Strings, featuring JazzMando familiar Aaron Weinstein, Don Stiernberg protégé.

Aaron gives due time to pick as well as bow, taking a break from undergraduate coursework at prestigious Berklee School of Music to record with New England jazz educator and guitarist Jerry Beaudoin, and rockstar turned competent Gypsy Jazz enthusiast, Jay Geils. Timeless classics include "Sweet Georgia Brown," Duke Ellington's "In a Mellow Tone," "Out of Nowhere," Mercer/Van Heusen "I Thought About You," even Django's "Minor Swing," to show off the young lad's "before-his-time" mature swing violin prowess.

The CD is an excellent study in how seamlessly the mandolin can slip into the acoustic jazz format, trading fours, occasionally comping, and soloing. Aaron's improvisation renders his pedigree, his rich years in private study with "The Don." You can hear and occasional signature Stiernberg "chuckle" in Weinstein's lines.

Some of the best songs ever written, this is one you'll want to order from Arbors Records for a fresh look at some timeless treasures.

Order cd: Jay Geils, Gerry Beaudoin and the King of Strings, featuring Aaron Weinstein

View CD cover

Posted by Ted at 12:07 PM

July 04, 2006 | Stephen Owsley Smith

It's the 4th of July here in the US, "Independence Day." Though we aren't normally intrigued by fireworks, the work of builder Stephen Owsley Smith has sparked our curiousity, especially his signature "Fireworks" design Celtic Mandolin, Octave, and Bouzouki. A victim of his own success, he is currently unable to take on any new orders, but that doesn't prevent us from lighting the fires of M.A.S. a bit and admiring the bold and billiant aesthetic pyrotechnics in his section of the celticmusic.com website.

View image

More information

Visit the Steve Owsley Smith Photograph Gallery

Posted by Ted at 01:02 PM

July 02, 2006 | Corey Christiansen

Okay, so he's not a mandolinist, but in our estimation, Corey Christiansen is one of the greatest jazz catalysts on the planet. Not only is he a brilliant up-and-coming jazz guitar world-class talent, as senior editor at Mel Bay Publishing, his prolific educator prowess has produced more than 89 books. All this and he's barely into his thirties...

We had the privilege of hosting Corey and his Quartet for the final concert in our Jazz in June series, as well as a workshop the night before with our new found friend, Danny Gottlieb. What an amazing couple of days this was!

Read more and see pictures: Jazz in June with Corey Christiansen

Posted by Ted at 07:56 PM

July 01, 2006 | Underwater Music Festival

The idea of playing an instrument water is a banjo joke punchline waiting for a really good set up. You know:

Answer: A really good start...
Question: What do you call 200 banjos dropped into the ocean?

Taking place July 8, 2006 at Looe Key Reef, an area of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary located approximately six miles south of Big Pine Key, the Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival. The event attracts around 600 divers each year, who come to hear a wide variety of music, ranging from "Octopus' Garden" by the Beatles to Jimmy Buffet's "Fins."

All this has a serious point - it aims to promote preservation of the Florida Keys' unique coral reef ecosystem and educate people how people on how they can enjoy the ocean while minimising the impact on the reef and overall marine environment.

We figure any winners from last year would have a disadvantage should there be some kind of contest format...

Their playing would be a little "rusty."

View image: Elvis Jam

Read article: Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival

Posted by Ted at 10:41 AM