Ever on our radar, Austin Clark has just finished a recent shop expansion and is back at it, turning out his world class mandolins. He has just given "birth" to two magnificent F model instruments, in his words, the instruments commissioned bear "similar colors, but one with bling (as the customer put it...), one without. Both are made with Engelmann from Colorado, but one is Sugar maple back and the other is Bigleaf. One is going to the left coast, one to the right."

Gotta love that Tequila Sunrise-burst color:

This is also first announcement of a collaborative project with Clark Mandolins and the JazzMando Laboratories, a new "Clark JM" Two-point. This instrument will be dramatically similar to the one reviewed last year in our Builder's Spotlight, the Clark Two-point. Departures will be gold hardware, even more emphasis on sweet, linear sustain, electronic pickup (yet to be determined), block inlay, and a signature "JM" logo.

ETA, this summer, and we just can't wait! More to come...

Builder Website: Clark Mandolins

Posted by Ted at 05:42 PM

February 25, 2008 | Jonathan Mann SEM-8

We're perpetually fascinated by the electric magic of Tennessee builder Jonathan Mann. His latest eye candy, this licorice SEM-8 double cutaway. Maple top with matching black body and headstock, its gold hardware and block pearl inlay stick out like jewelry on a black-gowned star actress on Oscar night. We understand Jon is exploring some new prototypes, a flatback two-poin Manndola next, and maybe a 5 string EM-5 'dola.

Check out the latest in the Manndolin website archives

Posted by Ted at 05:57 AM

February 23, 2008 | New from SHEL

We've become huge fans of Eva Holbrook; her breakthrough solo CD "The Very Last Dream" was reviewed last spring in our Artist Spotlight section. We hear another CD is being recorded, but meantime, her family band "Shel" has released an intriguing 6 song EP CD, "The Edge" available at CD Baby. Of course the family unity is as strong musically as it is spiritually, each one of her sisters have been making music together in the family literally since the womb.

Eva's electric work is stellar, a true pioneer for the instrument's untapped potential. She wields a mean acoustic, too, but she definitely forages a new sonic path with her Sea Foam Green Schwab. We're eager to catch her again in her midwest tour this summer!

Purchase Shel EP: The Edge

Read previous review: The Very Last Dream
Shel website: Shel MySpace
Eva Holbrook website: Eva MySpace

Posted by Ted at 05:22 AM

February 21, 2008 | Monster Mando Madness

Professor John McGann has released some fabulous video documentation of his February 5th Berklee performance with faculty and some star students (Eric Robertson, Jacob Joliff). Some mighty fine "High Mountain" jazz picking going on here by these East Coast boys. (Of course it wouldn't be complete without a little more bluegrass, oldtime, choro, Irish sprinkled in...) Check it out free online, courtesy of YouTube:

View: John McGann's YouTube user account.

Posted by Ted at 06:41 AM

February 19, 2008 | ModeExplorer Expedition Outfitters

Possibly one of the coolest online chord and theory tools we've seen in a long time, ModeExplorer Expedition Outfitters, from the ingenious mind of software design pioneer, Craig Schmoller. This page includes:

The Groveland Chord DNA Sequencer, a template for grabbing vertical notes and unwrapping potential chord classifications, The Groveland Scale Safari, a remarkable resource for determining scales and modes to solo over specific chords, The Groveland Chordwatcher's Field Guide, a revealing under-the-hood look at chord contents, and The Groveland Scalewatcher's Field Guide, a companion to the previous to properly distinguish and identify scales or modes based on chord tones used in common scales.

Online, this has two advantages, one it's FREE, and two, they are expanded and updated frequently. This is one you'll want to mark as a "Favorite" in your web browser. This is brought to you as a service by the makers of Mando ModeExplorer, a must-have Windows based theory resource for every mandolinist.

Don't have a window-based computer? Go out and get one; Mando ModeExplorer is reason enough to alone!

Check it out: Free ModeExplorer Expedition Outfitters

Purchase right now!

Posted by Ted at 09:05 PM

February 17, 2008 | Coming soon, JazzMando Ball-end JM10B Strings!

New prototype JM string in the pipeline, and we've recently had the chance to test them in the JazzMando lab. The JM10B will be a ball-end string, same construction as the loop JM-11, so they will accommodate a wide variety of electric mandolins and acoustic/electric that require the ball for anchoring to the tailpiece (or bridge in the case of the Ovation).

So far, the strings performed magnificently on the Epiphone Mandobird; you can click the link below to view a video demo. Because the strings feature a silk wrapping on the headstock end of the string to lock into place more effectively, we're still zeroing in on length for maximum playing area for a wider selection of instruments. (The initial D string prototypes were too short to fit our electric Jonathan Mann model) With some tweaks, we hope to see these ready for market in march. Pricing will be similar to the JM11.

Specs: 10, 14, 24w, 35, polished flatwound steel, packaged and sealed in Labella's exclusive "Tarnish Proof Technology," available in 8-string. (4-string players get two sets in the same package!)

View video: Mandobird demo.

Posted by Ted at 05:58 AM

February 15, 2008 | Swing Week at Augusta 2008, July 13-18

Swing Week at Augusta 2008 Announces Master Guest Artist, Johnny Gimble in Elkins, West Virginia, July 13-18, 2008. Gimble, the Western Swing Fiddle Legend, will appear with support from NEA and Darden Restaurants Foundation. A member of Bob Will's Texas Playboys, he's recorded and performed with everyone from Willie Nelson to Paul McCartney. Even if you don't play the fiddle you will become a better musician plan on spending time with Johnny in Augusta's supportive, musical and fun atmosphere. Come spend Swing Week at Augusta and add your name to Johnny's resume of people he's played with. Johnny's son Dick, an exceptionalTexas Swing musician, will be there too.

SWING MANDOLIN CLASSES ALL WEEK!
Swing Week offers classes in many instruments (including voice), and in Swing Dance. Students study with their instructor for 2-1/2 hours each morning and spend the rest of their day in other activities: intimate concerts by staff musicians & dancers, playing in student bands, listening to great bands every evening, and of course jam sessions with staff and other students.

Website: Augusta Heritage
YouTube: watch
Contact: e-mail

Roger Bellow, Swing Mandolin clinician is a multi-instrumentalist, recording artist, educator, and performer from South Carolina who Bluegrass Unlimited calls Roger Bellow "a member of the elite circle of superlative pickers". He's performed throughout the world and received the South Carolina Folk Heritage Award in 1995. He is an award winning multi-instrumentalist, recording artist, singer, teacher, and scholar. For 15 years he hosted Vintage Country on WSCI public radio in Charleston SC He has worked along side many other artists, including Paul Anistasio, Johnny Gimble, and Liz Masterson & Sean Blackburn, and has performed all over the world. Roger has been on staff at Swing Week for all of its 20 years. "....Keep it up Roger! I'm enjoying it!"--Johnny Gimble

Swing Week includes much jazz, not limited to Western Swing. Other staff members include: Steve Abshire (guitar) student of Herb Ellis, Joe Pass, Charlie Byrd; Robert Redd (piano) co-leads a band with brother, Chuck Redd and was a member of the Keter Betts Trio & Charlie Byrd quartet; John Jensen (trombone), soloist with the Navy Jazz Commodores.

Posted by Ted at 07:19 AM

February 12, 2008 | Django in June 2008

This just in from Django in June administrator, Andrew Lawrence: "We are well along in our planning for this year's Django in June, including our 6-day immersion experience, Django Camp. Last year (our first) Django Camp drew some 65 participants from across the U.S. and Canada as well as several from abroad and it was an incredible experience for our artists and participants alike. We're going to do it again in just a few months and I'd like to invite you to join us. All the details are at djangoinjune.com, but here are just a few important pieces of information about Django Camp that may be of interest."

The dates for this year are June 10-15. (Tuesday evening through Sunday noon.)
The event is held at Smith College in beautiful Northampton, MA.
Instruction, concerts, private dorm rooms and meals are all offered on-site, so once you're here, you're in the thick of things.
We offer instructional tracks for players of guitar, violin, mandolin, accordion and bass.
Much of our instructional program is organized into 3 broad levels of ability, so wherever you are on the spectrum, we'll meet you and help you take the next step.
The line-up includes a fabulous group of artists from Europe and the States on board for the whole time, including:

The Robin Nolan Trio, (including Simon Planting who will work with string bass players)L'Ensemble Zaiti (from Paris, featuring Adrien Moignard and Mathieu Chatelain)
Gonzalo Bergara (raves, raves, raves is all we get of this guy; it'll be his first visit with us)Jean Philippe Watremez (mon dieu, another Parisian, co-author of Complete Django)Michael Horowitz (of Djangobooks fame)
Matt Glaser (violin: he heads up Berklee's String Department and co-authored a book with Grappelli.)
John McGann (a world-class musician out to help us prove that this music is made for mandolin. Or vice versa.)
Vladimir Mollov (accordionist extraordinare from Bulgaria, via Pennsylvania)

Website: Django in June

This year, there is a special incentive for early registration (translate: save money!). For 2008 cost of tuition will be the same as last year ($350) but only through the end of March. In April, the cost of Django Camp goes up by $50 a month. Think of it as an entirely avoidable tax on procrastination. Online pre-registration is easy, cheap and really helps insure that Dj in J will be ready for you.

Posted by Ted at 05:54 AM

February 10, 2008 | Choro books with accompaniment!

Global Choro Music Corporation introduces four amazing new Choro books, complete with accompaniment. If you've not been bitten by the Choro Bug, you're missing a world of fun, and frankly, up until now this music has been difficult to obtain. We struggled years ago trying to import our three volume, "O Melhor do Choro" books from Brazil, but even they didn't have this terrific Choro ensemble accompaniment disc to play along with.

Our research team discovered them at the Winter NAMM show recently. A glimpse of their brief demo revealed this was a treasure for instrumentalists at all levels. We're looking forward to a more in depth review very soon.

Meantime, check out the website: Global Choro Music

From the website:

About Global Choro Music Corporation

Incorporated in the State of California in October 2006, Global Choro Music Corporation was created with one major aspiration and goal: to have the Brazilian Choro promoted, recognized and played in the whole world.

The series "Classics of the Brazilian Choro - You are the Soloist!" was the initial project proposed to materialize this dream. The purpose is to allow professional, amateur musicians and students throughout the world to meet the Choro based on the incomparable experience of performing the songs themselves accompanied by a Choro Ensemble.

Posted by Ted at 07:30 AM

February 08, 2008 | Eva Scow/Dusty Brough

Released in December of 2007, "Sharon by the Sea" by Fresno based string prodigies, Eva Scow and Dusty Brough, and we've weighed in positively. No, we've raved in our latest review in our Recent Recording Spotlight.

Once in a great while, we encounter talent that makes the heart tingly with anticipation. Such is the case with Eva Scow, a bright, proficient mandolinist/writer whose musical abilities promise a brilliant future, and is likely to forge new acoustic frontiers. Young, but wise beyond her years musically, this CD is an absolute must-have for anyone regularly reading this site.

Check out the review: Sharon by the Sea

Posted by Ted at 06:09 AM

February 06, 2008 | Fine Woodworking Preview

An incredible opportunity to look under the hood and into the work of a JazzMando personal fave, the ground-breaking finish work of North Carolina builder/pioneer, James Condino. In this time-compressed ten minute video for Fine Woodworking Magazine, the artist shows us some of his dye process secrets which he describes as "a dance," "Add some color, wash with water, add more color, wash some more, and perhaps add some accents to perk up the color."

His famous green Cricket mandolin caught our eye several years ago, and became a permanent feature in our collection of "Builders for the 21st Century." We've since had the privilege of getting to know this genius builder and recent columnist for Mandolin Magazine; we're proud to call him our friend.

View online video: "How to Create a Sunburst Finish."

While it's obvious his instruments are spectacular; the video reveals this stunning observation: Condino himself is a good-looking man, too!...

Posted by Ted at 05:54 AM

February 04, 2008 | Highland Strings Review

We've had our fun in and its time to 'fess up. A week with one of Jason Harshbarger's "Orpheus" two-point mandolins (Highland Strings), and we've journaled our opinions in our Builders' Spotlight. This Cincinnati craftsman has been under the radar too long; his exceptional ability to bring out the best in form and function is a regular theme in our critique of this delightful creation.

Check it out:
Highland Strings "Orpheus" review

Posted by Ted at 06:11 AM

February 02, 2008 | Sweet Chords at MandolinSessions.com

New February MandolinSessions issue out, and this entry is simply "Sweet Chords." We opted for something a little more immediately gratifying, some new mandolin chord variations. If you're adept at transposition, you can turn these few fresh chords into a hundred more you can use for your own frets and fingers.

Some of the "cerebral" chord construction theory is there to explain how they are built, but you can have just as much fun with playing them and trying to fit them into your own vocabulary. Kind of like working crossword puzzles to expand your daily language.

Enjoy: from Mel Bay's free online webzine MandolinSessions, "Sweet Chords."

Check out past Jazz Mandology topics.

Posted by Ted at 06:22 AM