Tax season for many (US citizens) coming up mid April can be a nightmare, but for some blessed with a refund it means a healthy depo$it towards a new mandolin. If you get the chance to do some personal shopping, or just want to get a better idea of how to evaluate a mandolin at an exhibit or store, we've got some ideas in our Tips and Tricks section.

Check out The Basics of Auditioning Instruments

If you're a serious addict, pick up an RSS feed from the Mandolin Cafe Classifieds.

Posted by Ted at 08:27 PM

March 28, 2007 | So you want play the mandolin?

This is something we'd certainly like to see more of, Alan Epstein's upcoming Novice Mandolin Workshop for Aspiring and Beginning Mandolin Players. Taking place on Saturday, April 7 from 10:30am-12:30pm (cost is $35), anyone in within driving distance of Lansing, Michigan should consider encouraging their friends into checking out this frequently offered novice-level workshop at Elderly Music.

We all think in terms of our own personal advancement in master classes, private lessons, and festival workshops, but for our little eight-string wonder to really make an impact on the world, we need to continue to add more players. It's exciting to see founder and former director of the Pittsburgh Mandolin Orchestra, Alan Epstein tackle instruction in this sort of friendly and safe learning environment.

Nice going Alan!

For more info on this and other upcoming workshops: Elderly Music Events.

Posted by Ted at 04:55 AM

March 26, 2007 | Holst Two-point

West Coast JazzMando field reporter Terry Lewis recently fell victim to the ravages of MAS (Mandolin Acquisition Syndrome), but the good news is he now recovering nicely with bragging rights to a gorgeous two-point blonde Holst mandolin with tortoise binding and Cocobolo trim. This delectable visual combination is as easy on the ears as it is the eyes.

View picture: Holst Two-point

We've had our eye on and treasured the innovative, daring line of Oregon builder Steve Holst. Nestled in the beautiful Willamette Valley his shop is largely in demand for the restoration and repair of high end collectible Gibson, Epiphone, and D'Angelico fretted instruments, yet he still manages to squeeze out 8-10 personalized custom instruments a year. Despite the studied homage to the creation of traditional, beautiful sound, his work is aesthetically distinct, and customers quite satisfied.

View Holst Gallery

For a real treat, take a graphic glimpse into how Holst mandolins are made: Tour

If we play our cards right, maybe we can get one of his in for a review...

Posted by Ted at 12:05 PM

March 25, 2007 | New JazzMando Case Lid Stickers

New from the JazzMando Merchandise Center, recently redesigned Case Lid Stickers. We've offered these for a couple years now complimentary with most orders, but the art has been begging to be updated. They now feature the Draleon Royale jazz mandolin, fitting as this is the same instrument that adorns the heading of virtually every page of this website.

With a smaller profile, these can go on your mandolin case lid or any surface where you need a reminder of which direction is up.

For ordering information: Free JazzMando Case Lid Stickers

Product Warnings:
Sticker not to be taken internally.
Do not apply sticker under water.
Choking hazard. Do not crumple sticker backing into a ball and give to toddler or infant.
Do not use instrument near fire, open flame, or sparks.
Do not attempt flips or acrobatic stunts while opening case.
Do not adhere sticker to eyes; may cause irritation.
Sticker not intended for highway use.
Case will become hot after heating.
Do not use in shower.
Do not use instrument while sleeping or unconscious.
Playing "Rocky Top" may cause stomach irritation or drowsiness.

Limited offer: if you'd like two free ones, you can also send us a self-addressed, stamped envelope (US only, please). Email for the address.

Posted by Ted at 04:57 PM

March 23, 2007 | Michael Horowitz' Gypsy Rhythm

Djangobooks announces Gypsy Rhythm by Michael Horowitz. This 296 page spiral bound book and 3 CDs contains explanations of proper body and hand positions, the la pompe swing rhythm, Gypsy style chord voicings turn-arounds, chord substitutions, and reharmonization techniques. Horowitz tackles advanced rhythmic and chordal embellishments, comping and "bass and chords" style playing, and chord progressions for over a dozen Gypsy jazz standards. You want literature, the book contain detailed transcriptions of rhythm guitar and comping parts by Django Reinhardt, Stochelo Rosenberg, Bireli Lagrene, and others. Also included, a complete Gypsy jazz chord dictionary and over 200 notated musical examples with chord charts and guitar tablature.

Ten Chapters:
1: Gypsy Jazz
2: Fundamentals
3: Basic and Intermediate Chords.
4: Basic Rhythms
5: La Pompe Styles
6: Advanced Harmonic Techniques
7: Advanced Rhythmic Techniques
8: Bass and chords
9: Comping
10: Transcriptions

Written for guitar by one of the world's foremost authorities on Django jazz, the book should still serve the aspiring Gypsy Jazz mandolinist, as well. The accompanying CDs have audio for over two-hundred examples and transcriptions. A number of original performances by Django Reinhardt are included.
Estimated arrival, May 15, 2007.

View cover.

For preorder information: Gypsy Rhythm Vol 1.

Visit DjangoBooks Gypsy Jazz Mandolin Forum.

Posted by Ted at 04:30 AM

March 21, 2007 | Brock 5-string

In the works for friend and mandolin wunderkind prodigy Bryce Milano, a jazzbox 5-string mandolin. From the magic bench of world renown builder Fletcher Brock, this is the 2nd amazing instrument the young virtuoso has been privileged to own. Originally from Cape Cod but now based in Seattle, Brock offers an amazing variety of archtop options in his building including jazzbox octave mandolins, and even a unique Selmer styles.

View Brock Gallery.

View Brock in the oven.

We've had the privilege of hanging with Bryce and has father, Joseph at Rigelfest as well as a return visit to the Milano roots in southeastern Nebraska at a Darol Anger/Mike Marshall event. Coincidentally, the nucleus for String Nation came out of this gathering. The line up of amazing acoustic musicians includes such notables as Marshall & Anger, Tim O'brien, Stephane Wrembel, Bryce Milano, in a variety of international styles from other continents. The festival is May 11-12 in New Jersey, and schedule can be found at the String Nation website.

Posted by Ted at 04:54 AM

March 19, 2007 | Birthday Cake

If only we could have our cake and eat it, too. This would definitely be the desire of newfound friend and fellow Carolina picker, Cal Sparks and his father, Glenn. For an 80th Birthday celebration a special mandolin cake was baked and frosted in tribute to a serious picking hobby started by a young Depression Era nine-year-old with a five dollar bill, a pawn shop, and a (grand)father's prudent wish this investment would be one that would stick. Seven decades later, it appears to have made it.

The cake decoration models Gibson Loar (made in Montana) reissue made in the early 1990s, which continues to be kept in perfect shape. (The mandolin, not the cake; that was gobbled up an gone long ago...)

View Picture.

One sweet tasting ax...

Posted by Ted at 05:30 AM

March 17, 2007 | New Mandolin Cafe Builders RSS feed

Mandolin Cafe has just added a Builder's Page RSS web feed. These RSS feeds are about the coolest way to catch all the latest news, and we already use on our own personal RSS page at my.yahoo.com, the Cafe News feed and the Classified feed. What this does is keep a list of the most recent additions, almost live.

Of course you can set up an RSS feed for JazzMando Tips and Tricks, as well as our "What's New" entries with the links in the gray box at the bottom of this page. If this is new terrain, read up on RSS here: JazzMando RSS Info.

Mandolin Cafe Builders RSS: http://www.mandolincafe.com/builders.xml

Posted by Ted at 11:38 AM

March 16, 2007 | NewMAD Review

It didn't take long for us to be impressed. The NewMAD A5 mandolin we've been sent to review completely wowed. Street talk last Fall when these were to be introduced was, "$3500" for a plastic instrument? They better sound a LOT better than wood..."

Well guess what, they are in contention. If one can own something that sounds this good AND have the residual benefits of longevity and structural stability our consensus is the instrument is worth its asking price. The trance-inducing beauty is hard to capture in pictures, this one is simply stunning in person.

Read official JazzMando review.

Snuggle up to a little "plastic."

Posted by Ted at 05:07 AM

March 14, 2007 | NewMAD for Spring

Spring is (nearly) in the air, and for us that means picking on the porch. Nothing better to face the extremes of temperature and humidity (plenty of that in the Cornhusker State) with a Carbon Fibre ax, and that makes a New Millennium Acoustic Design mandolin the ultimate for worry-free, all weather playing. Never mind the fact this thing sounds and plays like a million bucks, the mojo of this dynamite instrument will threaten all but the die-hard purist/traditionalist with Mandolin Acquisition Syndrome. (Tradition?? Hey if a pipe organ was good enough for the Apostle Paul, it's good enough for us...)

We've got a NewMAD in the JazzMando Research Lab on loan for a week. Look for a review soon.

View Picture.

Imagine, record high of 80 degrees almost melted last week's 9 inches of snow.

Posted by Ted at 08:38 PM

March 11, 2007 | Remembering Jethro

Don Stiernberg, Chicago area multi-instrumentalist and one of the greatest jazz mandolinists on the planet weighs in on his mentor, Jethro Burns on The Great One's March 10th birthday:

"Jethro Burns...what a great guy. I think of things he said every day, but March 10th is always a bit emotional as we count the years, wonder what he'd be saying nowadays about George Bush or Sam Bush or American Idol or Chris Thile or the Cubs spending $300 million...

But of course we were lucky to have him here as long as we did, and his comic and musical legacies are both rich. There should be a movie about this guy--WWII veteran, professional touring musician at age 12, Grammy Winning comedian, friend of Hank Williams, brother-in-law and guitar teacher to Chet Atkins... 40 albums, (most "cut" in an afternoon's time), touring partner of Steve Goodman... television and Las Vegas star during the formative stages of those media...and a person who had a dual career as writer (parodies) and jazz musician without the benefit of formal education....

Still the most astounding thing is the mandolin playing.You don't have to be into jazz or any specific style to dig and be amazed by Jethro. Just listen along with me sometime and ask yourself--"How did he think of that??!!" Any era from his career--single note swinging lines, hot fiddle tune breaks, fills between vocal phrases, and of course the chord melody arrangements--HOW DID HE THINK OF THAT?

There are so many great stories and memories, but let's not forget to revisit the notes. Very few figures in the history of American music have conquered their instrument so thoroughly and added techniques as Jethro did with the mandolin. Along with Tiny Moore and Johnny Gimble, Doug Dalton, and Paul Buskirk, he brought the language of jazz to the mandolin fretboard, also exploring split-string, crosspicking, octave tunings, electric mandolin(Fender and Gibson)and the aforementioned chord-melody solo arrangements where just about anything could and did happen...

Kenneth C. "Jethro" Burns. The Legend. The Great One.

Jeffo. Jethreaux ("French?...occasionally..") The Boss. Coach. Jethro Van Burns. The Dude. W.G.M.P..ol'Burns. The Big Guy....my hero, teacher, and friend.

I could go on and on, but I'll close by saying what I should have said much more frequently before 1989:

Love you Jethro.

--------------
Sincerely, Don Stiernberg"

Nicely put, Don. This touching tribute is from an excerpt on the Mandolin Cafe Discussion Forum.

Check out some of the great Homer & Jethro videos on YouTube.

Posted by Ted at 06:52 AM

March 10, 2007 | Noble Instrument

An occasional article about mandolin virtuoso, Carlo Aonzo reminds us that "tradition" can be such a relative term. On this continent, we often forget the centuries old tradition of the Italian School of mandolin. The Savona, Italy native has done much for this country in popularizing and making us aware of the rich and powerful influence of this style of playing which eclipses our own American Bluegrass, though from what we understand, Carlo is pretty adept at it, as well.

"The mandolin is my life," confesses Aonzo. We are fortunate to have him spread this tradition through workshops and performances this side of the Atlantic.

Read article 'Noble instrument' soothes mind and body.

Posted by Ted at 05:59 AM

March 08, 2007 | March Djangobooks.com

Always great to check out the latest at Michael Horowitz's DjangoBooks.com. The Video Archive is a treasury of great performances for the Django enthusiast, but more importantly for those unfamiliar with the genre, it's great exposure to the intense passion and technical tips and secrets of these musicians, visually.

The latest entries include some very rare performances by Romane and Stochelo Rosenberg, Dorado and Samson Schmitt, George Van Eps, Jimmy Rosenberg, and Andreas Oberg

Michael has added new CD titles this month including some hard to get Brazilian, Hamilton de Holanda "Brasilianos" and "Samba Do Aviao", along with new gypsy finds, Svend Asmussen Quartet, "Fit as a Fiddle: Live in Concert," Gaucho "Deluxe," Rafael Rabello, Paulo Moura, and others, "Le Choro Contemporain 1978-1999 2 CDs," Hot Club de Norvege with Ola Kvernberg and the Tromso Symphony Orchestra, "White Night Live," Hot Club de Norvege with Ivar Brodhal, "Best of Hot Club de Norvege: The Vintage Guitars Series, Vol. 17," Raphael Fays, "Django & Classic 2 CDs," and perennial favorite, Bireli Lagrene, "Djangology" and "To Bi or Not to Bi 2 CDs."

Check out the lastest in the print section, "The Pearl Django Play-along Songbook" is now available again at a new lower price! Of course we also encourage you to participate in the special Mandolin Gypsy Jazz Forum.

Posted by Ted at 08:21 AM

March 05, 2007 | Vivacissimo for Mandolin & Orchestra

Brilliant technical precision meets world-class mandolin musicianship in Evan Marshall's latest searing YouTube video entry, guesting with the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra under the directon of Peter Rubart. No one knows "clean" like Evan, and as always in his playing, we witness both his uncanny finesse and aesthetic mastery in this three minute excerpt from Tchaikovsky's "Vivacissimo for Mandolin & Orchestra" (after the Violin Concerto, Op.35).

Evan's got the whole package, a hard-earned pyrotechnical precision, a well-studied comprehension of classical literature, and an intuitive musical sensibility, from Bach to Bluegrass and one of his consummate passions, the music of the Beatles. If you're ever in the area of a concert, don't miss the opportunity to witness this amazing talent; better yet, catch one of his clinics.

Evan Marshall website

View video: Vivacissimo for Mandolin & Orchestra

That's some serious chop, Evan!

Posted by Ted at 05:53 AM

March 03, 2007 | Gilberto Silva again

When Brazilian Gilberto Silva moved to England to play soccer with the Arsenal, seems he brought a bit of his South American musical culture with him. An avid musician, he's been working with a trio of us own, Julio Baptista and Pereira Neves Denilson. "Rocky" Baptista plays cavaquinho, so it's only natural the two would jam together. The young midfielder Denilson enjoys dancing with the trio and some homegrown cooking, leaving the rest of the team to get into mischief at the local nightclubs while they enjoy their own native music.

Always nice to see music play a powerful positive role in the life of an athlete.

Read The Sun article: Arsenal's samba boys call tune

Watch cavaquino lesson.

Picture: Gilberto Silva Playing Mandolin

Posted by Ted at 08:36 PM

March 01, 2007 | String Theory Collective

Great opportunity for some live acoustic string jazz north of the (US) border in Toronto, base for the String Theory Collective. Jeff Cardey, the group's mandolinist brings to our attention this talented quartet featuring in addition, tenor guitar, guitar and double bass. They specialize in tasty arrangements of 1920's and 30's classics,swing,ragtime, and more.

Their website features some quality samples of their playing. Without a doubt, this crew is fully capable of a very marketable commercial recording; we certainly hope a CD project is in the works. Take some time to listen to the MP3 page, such classics as "I'll See you in My Dreams," "Autumn Leaves," and "S.G.B." These fellows play well, sling some pretty instruments (Michael Heiden!), and certainly sound like they enjoy each other.

Visit site: String Theory Collective

Posted by Ted at 07:37 AM