Perennial JazzMando favorite, Will Patton continues to get rave reviews and attention for his recently released CD, "6th St Runaround." The latest of accolades can be found in a Times Argos (Montpelier, Vermont) Art Edelstein arts review. "Patton is a fine musician who also plays guitar and bass on the CD. His well-worn Gibson A model mandolin (also the choice for klezmer/bluegrass mandolinist Andy Statman) has a warm rich sound, and his chops are impeccable. But, with players like Gusakov, Blair and Anna Patton contributing, there is plenty of space for each musician to take a lead. Thus we have a program of soft, non-jarring jazz presented by some of the best musicians found in this state."

We have to agree, and were recently privileged with a submission from the veteran musician in our PROFESSIONAL'S SOUND LAB with an interpretation of Lydia O'Lydia, one of our five concept songs from the book, "Getting Into Jazz Mandolin."

Read Times Argus article: Will Patton: Vermont, mandolin & jazz

Read recent JazzMando review: 6th St. Runaround
Hear Will's SOUND LAB entry: Will Patton: Lydia O' Lydia
Artist website

Other JazzMando Reviews: Spotlight; New Release Artist Recordings

Posted by Ted at 05:50 AM

October 29, 2008 | JP Charles BSA 4 Jazz Mandolin

New from veteran Brazilian luthier, Jean Paul Charles, a magnificent electric archtop "jazz" 4-string (available in 5 and 8) mandolin. This recent model features a Florentine cutaway design, and follows the construction and sound specifications of a jazz-blues guitar with magnetic or piezo onboard system pickups. The basic design is also available in 8 string acoustic version.

BSA 4 Jazz Mandolin Tidbits: The violin style hand carved top is made of Brazilian Cedro, a Mahogany hand carved back and neck (or Ivorywood), adorned with a Brazilian rosewood head plate and pickguard. Rosewood fretboard is a comfortable 15" radius with mother of pearl dots, medium fret wire, bone nut, and bone/rosewood bridge. ABS bindings available in beige or caramel, chrome tuning machines and tailpiece. Electronics include humbucker pickup with volume, tone, and mini-switch selector. Its US base price of $1920 includes clear natural nitrocellulose finish, and a rectangular hard case. BSA 5 (five string version) base-priced U$ 2180, and F holes 8 string acoustic version BSA-F model, based at U$ 1790.

BSA 4 with Dual Blade pickup
onboard preamp equalizer

English Website information: BSA 4 string jazz mandolin

Builder's website: JP Charles, Luthier

JazzMando site author's personally owned JP Charles: 4-string prototype

Posted by Ted at 07:27 AM

October 27, 2008 | Lawrence Road Trip

Time for a quick trip to Lawrence, Kansas to see Mandolin Cafe site administrator Scott Tichenor play with his long time friends in the Thomas/DeLancey Band at the Tuesday Night Signs of Life Concert Series in downtown Lawrence, 722 Massachusetts Street at 8:00 p.m. (free admission). Some of the JazzMando staff are packing the bags and heading south.

Signs of Life is a coffee shop, bookstore & art gallery on the east side of the street between 7th and 8th on Massachusetts Street--a venue known for supporting live acoustic music in Lawrence.

Thomas/DeLancey Band is out of Kansas City and includes the region's premier flatpicker Dan DeLancey acoustic guitar, Linda Thomas on piano and hammered dulcimer, Ronnie DeLancey on bass, and Scott on mandolin, performing everything from traditional and contemporary acoustic music to early swing, old-time and Celtic.

Come meet us there!

More concerts in your area? View the Cafe Calendar of Events

Posted by Ted at 05:06 AM

October 25, 2008 | Michael Lampert in November performance

Here's one you won't want to miss if you're in the New Jersey area, JazzMando mentor and Los Angeles electric mandolin pioneer Michael Lampert returns to his boyhood stomping ground for a rare east coast performance at the Concert Hall at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey.

From a recent JazzMando review of Michael's second CD release, "Blue Gardenia," "Breakthrough electric mandolin artist, Lampert permanently resides in that magnificent musical intersection where intellect and intuition meet. His music is both passionate and precise, a soothing, primal "groove" that satisfies the soul, yet never abandons his well-trained pedigree."

Electric Jazz Mandolin
Michael Lampert
Friday November 7th
8:00 PM
36 Madison Avenue
Madision, New Jersey

Featuring:
Jim Saltzman, Tenor Sax
Jack Breslin, Bass
Sam Scribner, Drums

For Ticket information 973-408-3889
Email: Ellis Hilton
Website: The Concert Hall at Drew
Artist Website: Sojourner Records

Posted by Ted at 05:48 AM

October 23, 2008 | More Tim Ware

We mentioned earlier in the month, the incredible opportunity to download for free, two albums of West Coast visionary multi-instrumentalist/composer, Tim Ware (see JazzMando News Archive The Tim Ware Group). Since then, Tim has tweaked and remastered some of the music, as well as brought to our attention a third and equally intriguing collection from his jazz fusion/electronica phase:

Tim Ware Group: Mach II Playlist, 1985-1992. (Guitar/violin/soprano sax/electric bass/drums)

We're also looking forward to a future release of some film music he recorded in the past several years, for the Oregon Public Broadcasting.

Still to come; we'll keep you posted!

Posted by Ted at 06:17 AM

October 21, 2008 | Lydia O'Lydia (The Tattooed Lady) and Don Julin cool...

A great way to get your week going, a Don Julin bonus track, "Lydia O'Lydia" packed with the signature Julin cool. This is our most recent addition to the Webtracks support page as we anticipate more entries by the likes of Mel Bay author (The) Gerald Jones, Wisconsin Gypsy Jazzer Sims Delaney-Potthoff, and Jeff and Josh Pinkham (if we can ever catch him between his extensive touring). Even Mandolin (Cafe) Mogel Scott Tichenor is talking about blowing the dust off his recording equipment to contribute to this project, and we couldn't be more excited!

Back to Don, one of our favorite Julin jewels is from a rare appearance of the Neptune Quartet with guest mandolinist Alan Epstein (who's also committed to a submitting a LAB sample) at a Liberty Hall performance in Lawrence, Kansas. After introducing the four members of the quartet, Don brings in Alan by boasting, "most quartets only have four members. Ours has five..."

Don's interpretation in the first of the five "concept songs" of the Getting Into Jazz Mandolin book is a lesson in "laid back." Notice how he delivers mood along with the notes, simply by laying the melody just behind the beat. "Cool" in every sense of the word.

Enjoy:
Don Julin Lydia O'Lydia

Don Stiernberg: Demo Song Tracks (includes two that aren't on the books CD!)
Getting Into Jazz Mandolin PROFESSIONALS SOUND LAB

Artist website

Important update on the book's availability: despite only three weeks out, Mel Bay has already cleared their warehouse of the initial printing batch, and they are already in preparation for a 2nd print run. There are still scattered GiJM copies available through your favorite book source (and here, of course), but don't risk a back order situation; get your order in soon!

Posted by Ted at 05:15 AM

October 19, 2008 | 25 CD Brazilian Music Feature

We are pleased to see in a recent online "Audiophile Audition" special presentation, the mandolin very well represented in their "Brazilian Music Feature." Do a word search for "mandolin" in the 25 CD report and you'll find yourself quite busy clicking through some excellent documentation of the work of contemporary mandolinists Mike Marshall and Hamilton de Holanda's exhaustive work, including kudos to the enterprising "Adventure Music" label.

The article notes the (roughly) 50th anniversary of the "Bossa Nova Craze" introduced in Brazil by Moraes, Jobim and Gilberto, whose earliest recordings plus the soundtrack music of the 1959 film Black Orpheus migrated Bossa's popularity from South America northward.

Read the October 18th article published list: BRAZILIAN MUSIC FEATURE - 25 CDs

Posted by Ted at 07:09 AM

October 17, 2008 | Missing Man Quartet

San Francisco Bay Area Mandolinist Tom Bekeny will be featured playing jazz electro-acoustic mandolin with the Missing Man Quartet at two upcoming shows in the: Restaurant Orso in Berkeley, CA Saturday Oct 18 (6:30) and McGrath's Irish Pub in Alameda CA on Saturday Nov. 1 (8 pm).

Missing Man Quartet... Gotta love those cerebral band-name jokes!

Something about the greater Golden Gate City nest seems to incubate and encourage the growth and broad-based expansion of mandolin, the ground zero of such mando heroes as David Grisman and Mike Marshall. The Missing Man Quartet is a new ensemble, one of the rare groups on the west coast that regularly features mandolin in a straight ahead jazz context. The group plays a mix of jazz ranging from swing, bebop to post-bop mostly drawn from the 30's through the 60's. In addition to Tom, the group features Steve Gallagher on electric guitar and Craig Griffeath on electric bass.

Artist contact: Tom Bekeny

Posted by Ted at 05:28 AM

October 15, 2008 | Don Julin, "Chick'n Apple Scrapple

We are honored to present you with our next demo audio from our PROFESSIONAL'S SOUND LAB, a capable but inspiring interpretation of our Blues/Turnarounds song lesson, "Chicken Apple Scrapple" from Michigan mandolinist/composer and JazzMando fave, Don Julin.

Don has returned to school the last few years (Berklee) for his certification in arranging to tackle film scoring, recently receiving national placement with his recordings, including airplay with NPR, and a project hatching at HBO. His song, perennial mando cult-fave "Mr. Natural" became the background instrumental bed for several major medical product commercials. We recall post-jam festivities at a recent Mandofest weekend, the spontaneous participation of nearly every mandolinist in the hall joining in on the young composer's original but familiar tune.

Enjoy the lucidly warm tone of Don's recent acquisition, a lovely Laura Ratcliff (Silver Angel) A model (f hole) # 48. Don reports, "It has a 100 plus year old redwood top that I believe is responsible for its thick but clear tone. I think it is a good fit for jazz. I have only had this one about a month and we are still adjusting to each other." Its subtle acoustic prowess certainly works nicely in the minimal jazz ensemble of the recording.

The PROFESSIONAL'S SOUND LAB is an ongoing accumulation of support audio for the book "Getting Into Jazz Mandolin." We've asked prominent mandolinists to record demonstrations of five "model songs" that demonstrate such concepts as modal improvisation, tonal centers, and in this case, advanced blues improvisation. Don gives us a great look at using "turnaround chords" and more advanced blues changes coverd in the book. We also have recording from Don Stiernberg, Will Patton, and Mark Wilson.

Listen to audio: Chick'n Apple Scrapple

Visit the Webtracks page for more support audio: JazzMando Webtracks
Artist website: Don Julin

Posted by Ted at 06:14 AM

October 13, 2008 | Will Patton Choro Vids

From our New England roving reported, Larry Sherman, great video captured from a recent performance of the Will Patton Ensemble. The group is renowned for its Gypsy Jazz blend with the popular South American genre. Larry weighs in, "His daughter Anna Patton joined him on clarinet for most of the show, and his Wife Deb also jumped in on shakers for some of the tunes. The first three tunes capture the whole ensemble on stage. The last tune is a close up of Will only doing some fast rhythm work for Nao Me Toques"

Enjoy:

Will Patton Ensemble 10-11-2008
(Live at Hooker-Dunham Theater, Brattleboro, VT)

1. Vou Vivendo (Pixiguinha)

2. Parana (Will Patton)

3. Caro Raul (Toquinho)

4. Nao Me Toques (Zequina De Abreu)

Thanks Larry!

Read recent Will Patton Review: 6th St Runaround

Posted by Ted at 06:28 AM

October 11, 2008 | New Wail: Resist Temptation

Perennial JazzMando friend Sims Delaney-Potthoff announces the arrival of Harmonius Wail's latest CD, "Resist Temptation." Sims, the band's mandolinist/leader studied with the legendary jazz mandolinist Jethro Burns, whose influence is huge on the core of its unique acoustic string sound, as well as its charismatic take-no-prisoners comic stage persona. He also studied with Matt Glaser at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, immersing himself in the Gypsy Jazz of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli. Sharing the stage with lead singer and wife, Maggie, the Madison, Wisconsin based group has been together since 1987. (Talk about longevity; that's staying power for bands and dog years...)

The band takes an unusual departure from their signature Gypsy repertoire and tackle "songs of Tom Waits, Steely Dan, The Velvet Underground and a handful of other bands and solo artists that are generally associated with a rock music sensibility." Same acoustic instrumentation, witty delivery and charm, all with a whole new song terrain.

If you've not been a "Wail" fan before, no better time to jump on than right now!

Purchase CD: Resist Temptation
Band Website: Harmonius Wail
Band MySpace Page

Posted by Ted at 05:57 AM

October 09, 2008 | More Lord Buckley

From our JazzMando buddy Tom Morse, who very much like us, squandered way too much of his youth reading Mad Magazine. We return with some more vintage Lord Buckley:

Lincoln's "New" Gettysburg Address (already sounding like Frank Wakefield)

Four score and like seven years ago our old daddies came on in this scene with a new group, grooved In free kicks, and hip to the Jazz that all cats make it the same. Now we're real hung up in a crazy big hassle, digging whether that group, or any group so grooved and so hip can keep on swinging.

We're making it on a wild spot of that hassle. We've got eyes to tag a little of that spot as a last lay-down pad for those who here conked out so that group might still score. It's frantically cool and jivey that we're on this kick. But in a bigger ribble we can't shake up, we can't sound, we can't even clue in this jazz. The cool cats, with us and down under, who flipped here, have pegged it straighter that we could ever mess with. The squares will never buy this bit, nor dig the lyrics we spiel here; but they can't ever put down what those studs did here. It's for us, the on-cats, who ought to pick up on those still-wailing blues which the off-cats who goofed here have blown so crazily up till now. Man! Like we really ought to be here with eyes fixed on this wild gig that still needs action, that those from those far-out D.O.A.'s we get a little higher on that kick for which they really went and flipped their gaskets; that we take it on to set straight that these cats show not have kicked off square; that this group under God, shall blow a crazy new sound, and that a hot combo of the hipsters, by the hipsters, and for the hipsters, shall not cut out from this scene.

Posted by Ted at 09:49 AM

October 07, 2008 | Randy weighs in

With the release of "Getting Into Jazz Mandolin" a week behind us, many of our readers have already weighed in with impressions. We thought it would be fun to share with you a charming bit of feedback from newfound JazzMando fan, Randy:

Mr. Ted,

With regards,
Randy

Well Randy, and many others of you who maybe going through a little "First Day of Class" shock, the project was definitely conceived a long term mission. For those of you who have already invested weeks or months into the FFcP exercises, the coursework will move much quickly. Once the motor part is down, and your fingers are conditioned, you'll be surprised at how intuitive most of the concepts are. We tried to approach it that way, "Here, play this." Later, "Listen to what you just played." Ultimately, "Here is what we label what you just played so you can repeat it in another key, another song, even in another style of music outside of jazz."

We hope at worst, the book is good calisthenics, at best, a bridge between intuitive motor skills and upper level music theory. Of course the latter will take time, but enjoy the playing along the way!

Learn more about "Getting Into Jazz Mandolin."
Sample some of the extended soundfiles on our "Webtracks Page."

Posted by Ted at 07:44 PM

October 05, 2008 | New from Will Patton; 6th St. Runaround

New from Vermont jazz mandolin superstar Will Patton, his fourth masterpiece recording, "6th St. Runaround." Following his previous three CDs, Latitudes and Departures, Peripherique, and String Theory, the multi-instrumentalist acoustic musician has returned to his traditional jazz roots with a collection of Bebop standards (Bess, Breakfast Feud, Webb City), injected a Mercer/van Huesen ballad (I Thought about You), and rounded the project off with his more familiar Gypsy/Choro signature sound.

A serendipitous meeting with fellow jazzmando legend, Paul Glasse prior to working the New Millennium Acoustic Design exhibit at the 2007 Summer NAMM, the two titans met in an Austin, Texas recording studio to lay down a compelling track of bebop jazz mandolin history in Benny Goodman/Charlie Christian's "Breakfast Feud," reminiscent of a Tiny Moore/Jethro Burns collaboration. Also prominently featured in many of the selections is daughter Anna Patton who is a magnificent jazz clarinetist in her own right.

Read our review and rush your order, today!

Read review: 6th Street Runaround

Purchase: 6th St. Runaround
Artist Website
Read past review: String Theory

Posted by Ted at 11:53 AM

October 03, 2008 | October MandolinSessions

The October MandolinSessions Webzine, a bi-monthly free online resource is out and ready for you to enjoy. Esteemed contributors include Wendy Anthony, Seth Austen, Michael Gregory, Joe Mendel, Paul Oorts, and Steve Smith.

In our third and final installment of "Fresh Compin'," we tackle in our regular Jazz Mandology column the concept of "Turnaround" chords. We offer some of the swing progressions of Texas premier jazz mandolinist Paul Glasse, and explain some fingering philosophies. Take a gander at the video included, captured from the August Acoustic Music Camp in Dallas, Texas, administrated by BanjoSessions editor Gerald Jones.

Read Article: Fresh Compin' Part 3

Posted by Ted at 05:27 AM

October 01, 2008 | The Tim Ware Group

Some great music for you to download for your listening pleasure--West Coast multi-instrumentalist/composer, Tim Ware was years ahead of his time in the "New Acoustic Music" scene, and as early as 1979, was recording some groundbreaking music with other San Francisco Bay Area musicians. He ran in circles with the likes of Darol Anger, Mike Marshall, and the Dawg himself (along with many of the revolving Dave Grisman Quintet members).

Two terrific albums were recorded in the early 80s, and are available for you free to download on the Hyperarts.com Website:

Download Page: The Tim Ware Group
Release 1980
Tim Ware: mandolin; guitar ("Seaborne Clouds")
Bob Alekno: guitar; mandolin ("Bossa de Bomba")
John Tenney: violin
Sharon O'Connor: 'cello
Ken Miller: bass

"Spiral Moons" (mandolin quartet):
Tim Ware: mandolin
David Grisman: mandolin
Darol Anger: mandola
Mike Marshall: mandocello

Download Page: Shelter from the Norm
Release 1983
Tim Ware: mandolin
Bob Alekno: guitar; 2nd mandolin ("Idiot Glee")
David Balakrishnan: violin (John Tenney on "Eleanor Rigby")
Sharon O'Connor: 'cello
Ken Miller: bass

Read Co-Mando archive interview

Posted by Ted at 06:43 AM