From the sister company to Paris Swing, The Loar introduces an all-solid wood "Golden Age" style mandolin. Homage to the the spirit of the rare and cost-prohibitive vintage mandolins of yesteryear, the new F body mandolin from The Loar has high-end features at a truly affordable price (List $799.99!). Featuring premium solid spruce top, solid highly-flamed maple back and sides, a flamed maple neck, premium Grover tuners, and an ebony fretboard and bridge, designer Greg Rich has really outdone himself on this one.

Geared toward the mandolin traditionalist, vintage white plastic binding borders the entire instrument with an added black and white inlay on the top, back, headstock, fingerboard and pickguard. The pickguard is the same tortoise-shell plastic as the vintage original, and a reproduction tailpiece with an engraved cover divides the string pressure in the correct manner.

The Loar, a division of The Music Link, is the leader in handcrafted musical instruments inspired by the Golden Age.

View Picture: LM-500-VS

Available now!

For dealers near you, contact The Music Link.

Posted by Ted at 09:06 AM

October 29, 2006 | Wayne Fugate can help you master mandolin

Recently Reviewed: Wayne Fugate's "Mastering Mandolin."

Top FAQ in our contact section posed by Folk/Bluegrass players wanting to expand their vocabulary, Classical mandolinists wanting to learn to basic improvisational skills, and quite commonly, guitarists who just recently discovered the beauty of our little eight-stringed wonder. "Where can I go for the next level?"

Of course we are shamelessly biased and want everybody to wait for the publication of our Mel Bay book "Getting into Jazz Mandolin," but the mid 2007 release is impractical for the hungry. We've already written about Mike Marshall's Mandolin Methods, but we recently stumbled on a helpful, concise method book by Wayne Fugate.

Of course you'll want our book when it comes out, too, but meantime, read the review and see if this intermediate/advanced material is up your alley:

Mastering Mandolin by Wayne Fugate

Posted by Ted at 08:54 PM

October 27, 2006 | John McGann Workshops

Boston Area mandolinists, your turn. Short notice, but John McGann, Associate Professor at Berklee College of Music, former Winfield National Mandolin Flatpicking Champion, author, composer, arranger, performer par excellence on mandolin, octave mandolin, standard guitar, Gypy Jazz guitar, & steel guitar is presenting two hands-on workshops Saturday, October 28th.

John will take topic requests, and will cover all aspects of tone production and technique, venturing into celtic, bluegrass, swing, and more. All levels are welcome, though these sessions are geared mostly toward intermediate/advanced.

Mandolin Workout: 9-11am
Guitar Workout: 11:30am-1:30pm
The Music Emporium
165 Mass. Avenue
Lexington, MA 02420
(781) 860-0049

Spots are limited in number for the benefit of the group, so contact the Music Emporium immediately to assure a slot.

Website Information

Posted by Ted at 06:02 AM

October 26, 2006 | NY Gypsy Jazz Workshop with Stephane Wrembel

New York City area Django enthusiasts, look for Stephane Wrembel, native French and premiere Gypsy Jazz guitarist to present a Gypsy Jazz Guitar Workshop, Sunday, Dec. 3, 10 am to 3pm at Manny's Hat Mall, 28 West 38th Street NY, NY. Admission is $100, and well worth it to work with a legend. Wrembel has studied and played with many of Europe's finest, and is the real deal, anybody who is involved in this genre of music will attest.

Stephane recorded early this year, a soon to be released CD project, "Gypsy Rumble", with legendary mandolinist and music visionary David Grisman. (Release date TBA.)

Though guitar-oriented, mandolinists and other instrumentalists ought to be able to glean some valuable insight. About the workshop, Wrembel offers, "I will propose a workshop based on rhythm and improvisation. Improvising is not about the relationship between scales and chords, but about inventing melodies on the spot. So for that you need to understand the way melody works, the different structures, and how to use rhythm to build them. Because at the end, rhythm is the key, the right note at the right spot, for a harmonious effect. Also, we'll work on interpretation ideas, how to play melodies, and we'll work on unlocking the fingerboard, through my personal system, the MIB chart."

Don't miss out on an extremely fun learning experience. Contact Howard, daytime (212) 764-2218 (212) 840-2235/36 or email.

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Posted by Ted at 08:55 AM

October 24, 2006 | Mike and Ham on Audiophile Audition

Critics are starting to weigh in now that the recorded collaboration of Brazilian superstar Hamilton de Holanda and multi-stringed virtuoso Mike Marshall, "New Words" is shipping. A five-star rating from of all places, an audiophile website, Audiophile Audition. (Arm your pop-up blocker...).

Of particular note, the accompanying DVD where the purchaser gets to see a three-song mini-performance of the dynamic duo. Initial availability of this incredible project has been off to a bit of a rocky start, but we hear these are shipping now, and of course, very much worth the wait.

Read the Audiophile Audition Review.

Read our review: New Words.

Posted by Ted at 05:45 AM

October 23, 2006 | Rhythm Greats

We're snickering from a read off an article by "Jazz Genius" writer, Jeff Fitzgerald in the All About Jazz archives. His August, 2004 "Farce-inatin' Rhythm" is a howl, as he unravels the history of the drums and bass. This humorous look at the two most important ingredients to defining rhythm in jazz is worth the gander.

From the article:

"There were many great and underrated bassists from the bop, post-bop, and free jazz eras, too many to list here. I will, however, mention the supple, uncomplicated yet always compelling basslines of Charlie Haden. Born in Iowa to a family of musicians, his early years were spent performing country music (which can not be held against him now, as the statute of limitations is only 8 years). Soon, he was in Los Angeles, finding himself part of the burgeoning free jazz scene with a revolutionary saxophonist named Ornette Coleman. Haden had an innate understanding of the role of the bass as both timekeeper and harmonic anchor, as well as making a dandy substitute--minus strings, plus wheel--for those soap box derby cars that Boy Scouts seem to enjoy making."

Read the rest of the article:
Farce-inatin' Rhythm

Posted by Ted at 01:01 PM

October 20, 2006 | Andrew Pouska's StudyBass.com

Once in a while we stumble on a great resource that springs from outside the realm of mandolin pedagogy. Such is the case with StudyBass.com, authored by Houston, Texas bassist and bass teacher, Andrew Pouska who has been privately teaching bass lessons full-time for the past 12 years. (He's already taught nearly 2000 students of all levels how to play bass guitar.)

Check out his keen insights into music theory in his article "About Music Theory." His perceptive slant that theory doesn't make the music, it only explains it, should help put in perspective the significance of understanding the construction of music.

Also you'll find incredible insight is his online fretboard, which is easily adjusted to violin/mandolin. This is a great visual resource for comprehending scales and relationships to scale degrees and chords.

Explore the Scale and Chord Tone Fretboard Printer. Includes 4 and 5-string versions.

Tell Andrew you read about his site at JazzMando.com!

Posted by Ted at 08:18 PM

October 18, 2006 | Art Strings Publishing

We've grown terribly fond of the artistic talents of Karen Cannon, graphic designer, fellow picker, and founder of Art String Publishing. Sporting an illustrative, Norman Rockwell-esque visual story-telling flair, she creates incredible music prints, greeting cards, t-shirts, mugs, and soon, posters. If you haven't been to her website, you're in for a treat just opening the home page:

Art Strings Publishing Website

The Products Page gives you a taste, but there's nothing like seeing her stuff in person. (John Jorgenson even told us he and his wife completely remodeled his kitchen to match the visual dynamics and hues of its showcase, her portrait of Django Rheinhardt...)

This it art that sells the music lifestyle and merits our highest praise and endorsement.

Check out a picture of some of the things she showed at this year's Summer NAMM show:

View Fun Art Strings Stuff

Website Index

Posted by Ted at 09:21 PM

October 16, 2006 | Jamie Masefield and Mamavig

JazzMando "Hall of Famer," Jamie Masefield (Jazz Mandolin Project) embraces his latest incarnation in the new acoustic jazz trio, Mamavig. Accompanied by the amazing guitarist Frank Vignolia (last five years with Mark O'Connor's "Hot String Trio), Vignolia is arguably one of the best Gypsy Jazz stylists this side of the Atlantic. Slinging upright bass in the group is Gary Mazzaroppi (Marian McPartland's east coast rhythm section, and regular bassist with Jim Hall and Les Paul).

View image

Masefield's long span with the internationally acclaimed "Jazz Mandolin Project" has put the Vermont mandolinist on the map as great innovator and musician. Now he struts his jazz stuff with a couple of other incredible industry veterans.

Read more about this amazing collection of musicians and there newly announced tour dates:
Mamavig Link

Posted by Ted at 11:05 AM

October 15, 2006 | Fall 2006 Mandolin Magazine

Mandolin Magazine, the one and only premier US produced print mandolin quarterly has hit the mailboxes, and may have already arrived in yours. The Fall 2006 issue includes a cover story feature on classical mandolinist, Caterina Lichtenberg (penned by Don Stiernberg, by the way...), featured builder, Gary Tope, and the many regular columns by favorites Joe Carr, Dix Bruce, Rich DelGrosso, Pete Martin, John McGann, Tom Moran, and of course the heavily-anticipated Jazz advice of none other than "The Don," himself. Also, the obligatory helpful CD reviews by LA area swing guitar/mandolinist David McCarty, and the usual juicy mandolin transcriptions from a wide variety of styles to learn and polish, Classical, Jazz, Swing, Bluegrass, Celtic, Blues, and some helpful exercises.

We dig the ads, too. See why on Page 2...

Subscribe

Posted by Ted at 07:04 AM

October 13, 2006 | Hamming it up.

Can't get enough Hamilton de Holanda, and if you're as anxious as the rest of the mandolin world is to get the new Mike Marshall & Hamilton de Holanda duet CD, mark time with these latest cool videos at YouTube.com!

Hamilton Videos

Read our review: New Words

CD Release Date October 17th!

Posted by Ted at 09:22 PM

October 11, 2006 | Cool Mandolin Company Annual Scholarship Program

Cool Mandolin Company, an important underwriter of the JazzMando website, has partnered with Weber Fine Acoustic Instruments for the purpose of providing annual mandolin scholarships to the next generation of "mandolin legends".

Upon the sale of this exceptional mandolin, Cool Mandolin Company will donate 100% of the proceeds to mandolin scholarships throughout the country. In addition to underwriting the JazzMando website

Support the CMC in their inaugural year of this exciting program as they encourage new players.

Visit important sponsors' websites:
Cool Mandolin Company | Weber Instruments

Posted by Ted at 05:45 AM

October 10, 2006 | Solocomp curing

Like a kid waiting for Christmas, there's nothing like the anticipation of a long-awaited custom-built mandolin. Frequent status updates from Master Builder, Bill Bussmann, we always enjoy sharing our enthusiasm and our eye-candy with our viewers.

This baby has really taken shape:

View image

Pictured on the opposite end is a ten-string mandola. (Ours is only four.) Still awaiting tuners, tailpiece, and custom-built jazz pick-up.

We can hardly wait!

Read our review on his Old Wave Mandola model.

Old Wave Mandolin Website

Posted by Ted at 08:37 PM

October 08, 2006 | New Words

Needless to say we aren't surprised. The "New Words" CD, recorded collaboration of Mike Marshall and Hamilton de Holanda is days away from purchase. No other way to describe it, the playing will blow you away. We've had it spinning in our player the last couple weeks and are ready to share our thoughts. Mind bending playing--read our review...

JazzMando Review: New Words

Coming October 17th!

Super surprise: the bonus DVD included in the package lets you SEE them play, as well!

Posted by Ted at 02:33 PM

October 07, 2006 | John Dickinson

The famous quote from the Kevin Costner film "Field of dreams," "If you build it, they will come," doesn't always have to ring true. Once in a while, we find mandolin builder/hobbyists that just enjoy the craft, the words of Boise, Idaho's John Dickinson, "months of chiseling fingers, sanding skin to bone, messing up a piece of expensive maple after 20 hours went into it only to re-do it, by the time I am done with one I really have trouble parting with it." Sometimes it's just for personal satisfaction...

John is working on his #6, just finishing up, and we discovered his building "addiction" after a rave review of our JazzMando strings in recent correspondence. His words: "By the way, your JazzMando strings are the best string I have found for my mandolins. I have tried most all of them and I always went back to Thomastiks altho I think Ti's are a bit dark and lack volume, but everything else seems too bright. After putting your strings on they are just how you describe them on your site. Have that Thomastik feel and tone only with better volume and more "ping" to them. The "ping" you mention is just right, not too bright, yet not dull and muddy sounding, just a nice warm wooden tone with a little pop to them, and they last a long time too. The set I just ordered I am going to put on my F4, it has Ti's on it now, but way too dull sounding for that mando. Thanks, John"

We do offer special pricing for Luthiers on our Flatwound Family Mandolin Strings (JazzDolas scheduled for production this week!), so keep us posted if you are a builder or repairman. We're currently compiling a list of JM-11 endorsers.

More on JazzMando strings: JM-11

View Picture: John and some wicked cool flame

Posted by Ted at 05:56 AM

October 06, 2006 | Raul Reynoso endorses Paris Swing

The Paris Swing Co. proudly welcomes Raul Reynoso as an endorser of Paris Swing Mandolins. Reynoso is one of the pioneers of the Gypsy Jazz movement, and has been nominated "Instrumentalist of the Year" three times by the Western Music Association.

He is most noted for his expertise on acoustic guitar and mandolin with a mastery of styles ranging from bluegrass and western swing to '30s jazz in the tradition of the legendary Django Reinhardt. Raul has taught privately for over 35 years, and has done workshop and clinics for the last fifteen. He is a mentor at the Booher Family Music Camp, and has done workshops with John Jorgenson for the JazzMasters Workshop.

About the artist: Raul Reynoso

View picture

Paris Swing Website

Posted by Ted at 01:42 PM

October 05, 2006 | BRW Oval Review

From the apt, inventive mind of builder Benjamin Wilcox to his woodbench, and now to our hands, a bold new hybrid instrument. Thanks to the generosity of its proud new owner, Doug Young, the JazzMando laboratory research assistants have had the opportunity to pluck, pick and prod this new creature, The BRW Oval, officially designated the LT-H4-E.

Excerpt from our critique: The asymmetrical two-point and elliptical oval hole from the "waist up" will deceive the player into thinking he/she is about to pluck a characteristically tubby but warm vintage classical instrument. However, the young innovator infuses some magnificent hybrid construction deviation. Embracing (pun intended) an internal X or cross-bracing pattern for punch under the Red Spruce top, and an elevated fingerboard, he has melded the best of both worlds, a mid-range defining clarity and an upper-mid producing crunch atypical of a two-point Oval."

Read full review & see exclusive pictures: BRW Oval

Posted by Ted at 09:42 AM

October 03, 2006 | 25 Years at Sugar Hill Records

Special friend to the mandolin, Sugar Hill Records celebrates 25 years of quality music. Started in 1978 by Barry Ross as an spin-off of country music, Ross's aim was presenting younger artists that could perform older music but infuse a contemporary kick. From a Steve Horowitz article, "Sugar Hill's early recordings possessed an aural purity that met people's hunger for authenticity and also seemed fresh and new. There was something honest about the sounds of the banjo, dobro, fiddle, and mandolin, and the way they mixed together. The picking was clean and crisp. Each instrument was easily identified."

We've enjoyed many of Sugar Hill's recent releases, including recordings by Dolly Parton, Nickel Creek, Tim O'brien, Jerry Douglas, Psychograss, Sam Bush, Hot Rize, The Duhks, Mike Marshall, and Chris Thile. The laundry list of Sugar Hill artists is long and thorough.

Read Pop Matters article.

Sugar Hill Website (free previews!)

JazzMando Reviews: The Duhks, Mike Marshall & Chris Thile, Chris Thile.

Posted by Ted at 05:43 AM

October 02, 2006 | Chris Thile & Hilary Hahn in Concert

Chris Thile joins internationally renowned violinist Hilary Hahn in New York City in concert at the Housing Works Bookstore to celebrate dual album releases, October 10th, 7:30pm. The event is also a high-profile fundraiser for fighting AIDS and homelessness, and will be a magical evening of classical and bluegrass music. Both musicians have been known to break beyond their "roots" with classical violinist Hahn guesting on albums by alternative rockers, and Thile of course, national mandolin championship prodigy and Nickel Creek co-creator since his teenage years.

Thile has partnered with bassist Edgar Meyer and has recently recorded two duet albums with mandolinist extraordinare, Mike Marshall, comprised of folk, original tunes, and classical Bach arrangements. Mike told us a couple years ago, "Chris really kicks my butt in learning all the Violin Partitas, he has most of them memorized."

Both Hahn and Thile share a love for the Bach solo partitas and sonatas for violin; this should be an exceptional concert!

Tickets and concert details: Hilary Hahn My Space Page

More about the Housing Works.

Read recent review: Live Duets; Mike Marshall & Chris Thile

Posted by Ted at 04:15 PM

October 01, 2006 | Chords in Passing

Mel Bay's October Mandolin Sessions fresh on the web, so read our latest article, "Chords in Passing." We offer some new voicings and hopefully give you a clearer picture of the concept of "Diatonic Chord Progressions."

Music theory, without the sweat...

Read Article: Chords in Passing

While you're at it, catch up on a little reading--the rest of our back issues: Jazz Mandology

Posted by Ted at 01:57 PM