We've had the privilege of cooperating with some world-class builders on new models of instruments. Past pet JazzMando projects include the Rigel Gypsy Q mandolin, Old Wave SoloComp Jazz Mandola 4-string, and of course our most recent Clark JM signature JazzMando model.

Hindsight usually keener than foresight, from where we sit it makes perfect sense to document the personal stories of an instrument's origin, special encounters and autographs from professionals, unique concerts or travel destinations. We don't often think of it at the time, but if your case had something convenient, a dairy of sorts, this would be an accessory that could accompany the instrument and be passed down over time, through generations. Such credentials would preserve and likely enhance value, both in sentiment and financial equity.

Such is the case (pun intended) with a unique product by entrepreneur Brant Beene. "Case Notes" is a small flexible notebook (5 1/4"H x 4 1/4"W x 1/2"D) you could store with your instrument to capture these moments. Might not be a bad Christmas present, and of course the earlier in the instrument's life, the better. If you recently commissioned a custom build, no better time than now to get one of these.

Product information and purchase: Case Notes Website

Posted by Ted at 06:07 AM

November 27, 2008 | Don Stiernberg and & Stacy Phillips in concert, Dec. 17

If you're in the greater Chicago area, before your holiday season gets too full you'll want to mark or your calendar a terrific concert opportunity, JazzMando senior mentor Don Stiernberg with Grammy award winning dobro player Stacy Phillips in an evening of acoustic Americana/jazz/bluegrass music. An internationally-acclaimed resonator guitarist and violin player, Phillips has performed with the top acoustic musicians over the world. Featured artist on the Grammy award-winning album "The Great Dobro Sessions," he has also released three solo albums as well as over 25 books and DVD's on various aspects of of both fiddle and resophonic guitar.

Don is, well... "The Don!"

Chicago's hardest working mandolin/multi-instrumentalist, Don Stiernberg has taken his years of Jethro tutelage and forged his own unique signature mandolin sound, now inarguably of the greatest jazz mandolinists on the planet today. We've reviewed several of his CDs in our Artist Recordings, and can hardly mention Don's name without a gripping sense of reverence.

The concert, Wednesday, December 17, 2008, at the Society for the Preservation of Art & Culture in Evanston, 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston, Illinois, Tickets are $15 and the concert begins at 8:00 PM.

EVENT WEBSITE: S.P.A.C.E.

Check out some of the amazing exclusive recordings Don did for us on the "Getting Into Jazz Mandolin" book CD tracks. (Two of the songs here are bonus tracks, not found on the CD!)

ARTIST INFO:
Stacy Phillips
Don Stiernberg

Posted by Ted at 06:48 AM

November 25, 2008 | Latest Pics from Andrew Mowry

We've just been privy to a glimpse of the latest luthier magic of Oregon builder Andrew Mowry. You might recall we had the honor of spending quality time with a gorgeous blonde--one of Andrew's asymmetrical Two-point mandolins (read review) in the Summer of 2007.

(click pictures for close-up)

He's doing the final sanding on a batch of instruments, and though none are intentionally jazz-specific, we've always found his work fascinating and worthy of global attention. The photo of the tenor guitar/octave back below is of an instrument will have four strings, and will be tuned mostly as an octave mando. It will have a custom Kent Armstrong humbucker and an internal K & K, run to a stereo jack. Next to it is a photo of the figured maple blank that a made for Kent from which to cast the pickup.

The two hanging instruments are a matching octave and parlor guitar, both with the same body, headed to a multi-instrumentalist in the Seattle area. The final one is an A model hybrid, of which he's been building quite a few lately. He also had some F5s in this batch, but of course that tired design is old news...
:)

You'll be hearing plenty more about this dynamic builder!

Builder's Website: Mowry Strings

Posted by Ted at 05:58 AM

November 23, 2008 | TablEdit helps: Guides and Gravity, Lydian DUDU

TEF viewers (TablEdit) can thank JazzMando Deputy Correspondent, John Griffin for his recent submission, the conversion of two of our Downloads Page resources into accessible TEF files. Below are files that can be read from the free TablEdit viewer on Mandozine.com, including "Guides and Gravity," an excellent chop-builder and ear/theory exercise in identifying the crucial 4-3 and 7-1 relationship, and "LydianDUDU," an excellent finger-stretcher and right hand/left hand coordinator. (Also Pages 30-33 out of the "Getting Into Jazz Mandolin" book...)

Enjoy:
Guides and Gravity TEF
Lydian DUDU TEF

Download the latest TablEdit Tablature Editor
TablEdit FAQ and Resources

Check out our other FREE Popular Downloads.

Posted by Ted at 12:22 PM

November 21, 2008 | Craig Schmoller: Lydia O'Lydia

We just added one more amazingly creative entry to our PROFESSSIONAL'S SOUND LAB. The latest is a Choro Nouveau dazzler from master jazz theoretician and software guru Craig Schmoller of Mando ModeExplorer fame. Craig's brilliant interpretation of Lydia O'Lydia colors even farther outside the lines with some intriguing parallel guitar counter-melodies and the addition of some Brazillian percussion, basically a pandeiro, which he describes as "an ebony block with a small stick, 2x4s glued together and a peewee baseball bat."

Schmoller is already a well-known fixture here at JazzMando, receiving rave reviews for his PC based software Mando ModeExplorer, an interactive tour guide into a wonderful journey of chord and scale theory. Such study can be dry and tedious taken out of context, but throw in some compelling graphics, a deliberative organizational strategy, a sexy chord computer, and you have this fabulous instructional aid for unraveling the mysteries of jazz theory.

From our earlier JazzMando review, Mando ModeExplorer is a "powerful tool for the chord hungry mando-enthusiast, this terrific resource allows the player to grow and literally explore a gazillion chord and scale fingering opportunities. Visually appealing, it features sight and sound of a real mandolin fretboard as new positions are unraveled before your eyes. Find the fingering for a Ab7(b13)+11(add9)/F and light that fingerboard like a Christmas tree!"

Speaking of Christmas, it's just around the corner; Mando ModeExplorer would be a great gift idea for yourself, or something to spend the winter months indoors investigating. Strongly consider a purchase!

Meantime, listen in, and stretch your mind with the other artists interpretations of the five songs from the "Getting Into Jazz Mandolin" book from Mel Bay.

Enjoy Audio:
Craig Schmoller Lydia O'Lydia

More artist interpretations.
Purchase Mando ModeExplorer.
Read Jazzmando Review.

Posted by Ted at 06:52 PM

November 19, 2008 | Preorder new JazzMando "Getting Into Jazz Mandolin" Shirt

We thought the cover art of the "Getting Into Jazz Mandolin" book was cool enough to actually wear, and decided to offer something a little different in the Merchandise Center in a new signature shirt. With the winter season at hand in the northern lattitudes, a long-sleeve shirt seemed more appropriate, and since we've never done a black shirt before, why not now?

Of course black is a "slimming" color, and the contour of the sleeves flatters (or distracts) those afflicted with a middle-aged spread. It makes for a little more expensive shirt, but these are very comfortable, and the cover artwork chic.

$24.95 each, but very much worth the extra bucks.

We will likely offer less expensive short-sleeve versions in the spring, but for now, we've printed an exclusive limited run of these, available for shipment in the next two weeks. We'd suggest preordering now, however. They're likely to go fast, and Christmas is just around the corner.

More information: GiJM JazzMando Shirt
Don't have the book yet? For shame!

Posted by Ted at 06:13 AM

November 17, 2008 | JazzMando exclusive Eastman/Giacomel DG1 mandolin review

It's a rough job, but somebody has to do it. We've had the assignment of auditioning the new Eastman/Giacomel DG1 Mandolin, a project closely captained by world renown mandolin pioneer David Grisman. A far, far cry from the Lloyd Loar Florentine tobacco-burst template, the DG1 is a horse of a completely different color, from its cutting edge Cubist outline to its resounding aural sweetness.

Street priced in the low $3K's, the model offers much a better opportunity at acquisition than the $12K original Italian model. Eastman's reputation for affordability has been taken into a new level of quality, having captured the hearts (and fingers) of many enthusiastic but budget-minded hobbyists and professionals.

Read exclusive review: Eastman/Giacomel DG1 Mandolin

Check out other revolutionary mandolin builders: JazzMando Reviews

Posted by Ted at 05:59 AM

November 15, 2008 | New at Clark Mandolins

We're proud to bring you some exclusive pics of the happenings on the workbench of Idaho builder, and perennial JazzMando fave, Austin Clark. The world class luthier (and designer of the famous Clark JM mandolin) is full-throttle in gear preparing for this February's Wintergrass Festival in Tacoma, Washington, February 19-22, 2009. He and his magic elves are preparing for a massive "Shock and Awe" exhibit, including this dandy Dola prototype, a Two-point oval.

Click for close-ups:

Also from the drawing board to the saw, a prototype Guitar-body Octave Mandolin.

We are looking into flight schedules, and hope to send a research team ourselves for the Winter festival. Join us?

Event details: Wintergrass
Builder's Website: Clark Mandolins
Get a free Clark JM T-shirt while they last: SW Cloth/Shirt special

Posted by Ted at 06:28 AM

November 13, 2008 | Better Navigation at JazzMando

With the hundreds of pages of resources here at the JazzMando site (and growing!), you can spend literally hours uncovering some of the pedagogical treasures and mando-trivia. Accompanying the opportunities for prolific discoveries comes the Administrator's daunting challenge, maintaining order and accessibility to a myriad of relevant topics.

We just made some subtle structural changes we hope will assist in your quest for knowledge. In particular, we've revised some of the menu subheadings to make them more consistent with newly added content. Mouse over the headings at the top of the page and you'll experience quicker access to support materials for the GiJM book, Mandolin Cafe News, Artist CD and Builder Reviews, and a breakdown of pedagogical archives.

If you have a sharp eye, you'll also notice the new Flash Header. We've changed our slogan from "For the curious jazz mandolinist" to reflect our revised, broader charter, "Playing better mandolin." We're certainly not abandoning jazz, we just feel the vocabularies and playing techniques you uncover here will be a stepping stone to a wide variety of other music as well.

Take your mouse to the top of the page and enjoy the tour!

Posted by Ted at 07:50 AM

November 11, 2008 | Books at Djangobooks

We like to bring you the latest offerings from Michael Horowitz in his video archive, two entries out of the more than 250 already posted in the astonishing Djangobook Video Archive, a performance by the individual brothers of the famous Rosenberg Trio:

Stochelo and Nous'che Rosenberg - La Gitane
Mozes Rosenberg - Stella by Starlight

Michael's site offers a terrific service and educational resources. In addition to the vast Django jazz guitar instruction books, his online store offers breakout jazz mandolin books by Dix Bruce, Andy Statman, and ebook versions of hard to find celebrated classic method books of Bickford (all 4 volumes) and Christofaro.

Of course, the one we're selfishly interested in is his most recent offering: Ted Eschliman - GETTING INTO JAZZ MANDOLIN

If you haven't already acquired your copy of GiJM; view the videos and support the DjangoBooks site with a purchase today!

Posted by Ted at 05:17 AM

November 09, 2008 | Will Patton Ensemble Live at VPR

Wicked cool live recording of the Will Patton Ensemble available for you to download and enjoy from the Vermont Public Radio website! Consummate professionals, the boys are in rare form, and the energy from this live gig is palpable, especially within the laidback FM community radio environment. Will shares some interesting experiences and spontaneous liner notes between songs from his most recent album, "6th Street Runaround," as well as some of our favorites from past CDs.

Take some time to listen, or do what we did and burn a personal copy CD for yourself:

Link: Will Patton Ensemble Live at VPR
Will Patton-Mandolin; Steve Blair-Guitar; David Gusakov-Violin; Clyde Stats-Bass; Skeeter Camera-Drums

Artist website
Recent JazzMando Review: 6th St. Runaround
Will Patton's GiJM PROFESSIONALS SOUND LAB entry: Lydia O'Lydia

Posted by Ted at 06:18 AM

November 08, 2008 | Buy four Silk Weave Cloths, get free JM T-Shirt!

We just listed a limited special purchase in the Mandolin Cafe Classifieds you mandolin hygienists will be interested in, especially if you're attacking the post-summer festival grime on your instruments, now that you're migrating indoors for the new (northern lattitudes) season.

Since summer is behind us, we're shifting our inventory of shirts to a new long-sleeve design (featuring the cover of the new GiJM book!) and clearing out all the short sleeves. We're offering a special bonus free Tee with the purchase of four of the Jupiter Silkweave Cleaning Cloth. Buy four at $5.00 each, we'll throw in a free Large Clark JM T-shirt (Ex-Large available in very short supply). Clean your mandos well, get a free shirt. ($15.00 value!)

About the popular Jupiter Silkweave Cleaning Cloth, the Micro Filament is woven ten times finer than the finest silk. Its microscopic pores actually pick up oil from fingers as well as lubricant residue and dust. Like a fine silk cleaning cloth it does so without any abrasion. It protects the most delicate finish including gold, silver and platinum. In fact it is the cloth trusted by owners of rare violins. If you have more than one instrument, multiple mandos, guitars, basses, fiddles, even a silver flute, these are the cat's pajamas for instrument finish hygiene.

The design on the shirts is cool, and even if you already have one, consider buying the cloths for your axes and give the shirt to your significant other so you can admire the pretty Clark JM mandolin graphic from a distance. (Or better, keep it yourself as a spare for next festival season.)

The four cloths, shirts, and domestic shipping are $22.50 total. Check with us before purchase, as we have a very limited supply, and have to cut off the deal when we run out. At this point, available only in mostly in L as of this morning. (Almost out of XL!) Payment taken through Paypal, mandohack@aol.com, but let us know first.

Read more about the limited commerative shirts here

Posted by Ted at 05:39 AM

November 06, 2008 | Eastman Giacomel coming to the JazzMando Lab

David Grisman and Eastman Strings have collaborated on a new mandolin line, "The Dawg Collection by Eastman." Eastman Strings has enjoyed unprecedented success with their mid-line professional instruments since their preliminary foray into mandolins five years ago, following up over a decade of established popularity with their orchestral string instruments.

This project is a unique blend of new and old. The recent addition to Grisman's personal stage gear, a contemporary design Giacomel J-5 by premier Italian builder Corrado Giacomel is the inspiration for the first release, its quirky Cubist design the talk of many musicians the past several months since the meeting of the two. The prestigious J3 and J5 originals sell from $9,025 to $12,500.

Mandolin pioneer David "Dawg" Grisman elucidates, "I don't think the world needs another attempted Lloyd Loar mandolin copy. I've always enjoyed the diversity of obtainable voices from many other worthy designs, past and present, like those I explored sonically (and historically) on the Tone Poems series of CDs for Acoustic Disc. I'm also very impressed with Eastman's commitment to both quality and value, in addition to their interest in producing some of these fabulous instrument designs."

The second entry, the DG2 ($2695 List Price, Street Price TBA) also based on a rare example from Grisman's personal collection, is inspired by classic instruments from the "Golden Age of American Luthiery," a Bacon Artist Model made in the 1920s. "These fine mandolins had labels signed by mandolin virtuoso William Place, Jr., several years before the idea was appropriated by Lloyd Loar," and available in January 2009.

The first model in the series, the DG1 (List Price $3495, Street Price TBA) will be available on November 1, 2008, through Eastman Mandolin Dealers. We are looking forward to a special sneak preview soon. JazzMando research assistants are standing by to personally test the DG1 and document our impressions online for you in our Builder's Spotlight.

We'll keep you posted!

Take the online Eastman Workshop Tour.

Pre-order from our favorite Eastman dealers (and JazzMando site sponsors):
Acoustic Vibes Music
Fiddler's Green Music Shop

Posted by Ted at 09:11 AM

November 04, 2008 | GiJM Feedback

We've enjoyed the communications we've received since the September release of "Getting Into Jazz Mandolin." Some include questions "Can you diagram the related 2nd octave fingerings on page 5 & 7?" for example, or typos captured (page 38, 2nd exercise meas. 7 the finger cue should be 1, not 4), or just a simple glimpse into how the book is impacting personal playing. The following comments are the recent reflections of C. Shoreman:

"I was pleased to receive your email comfirming my delivery of "Getting Into Jazz". I have enjoyed your articles on the Mel Bay site and your jazzmando site has expanded my insight into the possibilities of our hand held circle of fifths. I love how logical the instrument is. You are the first one to open up the patterns of the mandolin and fiddle for me. I thank you for that and was delighted to see that you have placed your ideas into a sequential format. I love the jazz standards and always thought that the genre was beyond mere mortal comprehension. My favourite artist is Leon Redbone and I would love to perform that sort of material on mandolin.

"I am currently play mandolin, fiddle and sing in a local Celtic group. I am a retired high school teacher and promised myself that I would devote myself to one of my instruments and become a true student. Your site and insight helped me to chose the mandolin. Thanks. Keep up the good fight."

We're pleased to see the book resonate with fiddlers. Also, experienced guitarists who desire more immediate insight into the secrets and layout of the mandolin fretboard are weighing in positively. Though the book has been conceptualized to gently introduce the folk mandolinist into a greater understanding of more complex harmonic possibilities, many experience musicians are finding some gems to move them more rapidly into mandolin "multi-instrumentalism" as well!

We'd like to continue to chronicle other reader's experiences with these materials. Ultimately, this is fodder for future articles, as well as the chance to better explain concepts that aren't quite hitting home yet. Chances are if you have a question, someone else on the globe has that same one.

More about the book: Getting Into Jazz Mandolin
Feedback: Contact Us
Enjoy the latest addition to our PROFESSIONAL'S SOUND LAB

Posted by Ted at 05:38 AM

November 02, 2008 | The Absynth Quintet: Indigo Shoes

Introducing "Indigo Shoes" from a fabulous Trinidad, California Gypsy "Jamgrass" band, "The Absynth Quintet." We've been following mandolinist Bird Jowaisis now for several years since their sophomore 2004 release "Kevlar Mariachi Pants." Bird and the band have matured and solidified their unique signature sound, a blend of Eastern European Gypsy, Americana, and Jam band. Rich with energy and finesse, they produce a fierce acoustic energy that never betrays a carefully crafted sophistication. In addition to the quintet of banjo, upright bass, mandolin, drums, and guitar, the CD features special guest appearances by Zebulon Bowles and Rob Diggins on violin, Drie Roberts on vocals, and Steve Porter on musical saw!

From their website: "The Absynth Quintet melds the familiar and the avant-gard with a unique and provocative palette of tone and texture. This is streetcorner swing with a sense of humor, bluegrass with footstomping danceability, intertwined with playful forays into the depths of sophisticated musical experimentation. The Eugene Weekly places the sound 'somewhere along the spectrum of acoustic-improvisational-gypsy-jazz... plucky and tight a la David Grisman' with 'a dash of Eastern European exoticism that puts you in a smoky, understated hash bar kind of mood.' And desptite the fact that 'The subtle interplay of various harmonic layers is also deserving of a close and contemplative listen' the band makes it clear that this is not meant to be hyper-organized, candlelit jazz. They make music that is equally appropriate for sit down shows at theatres or rocking friday night danceclub parties, 'we work where the visceral and the cerebral meet' is how Mandolinist Chris 'Bird' Jowaisas put it. The Arcata Eye said '...listening to KMP is akin to being served an exotic meal (or mind altering beverage) one could never hope to replicate at home. You have to go out for this kind of stuff. Delicious.' The CD is out now on Sidenote records and available at music stores and itunes."

Recent performances had the band sharing the stage with such acts as Vince Herman, Thamusement, Sam Bush, Devil Makes Three, Joe Craven, David Grisman Quintet, Peter Rowan and Hot Buttered Rum.

Instrumentation:
Ian Davidson: Banjo
Rudy Luera: Upright Bass
Chris "bird" Jowaisas: Mandolin
Ryan Roberts: Guitar
Michael Schwartz: Drums and Percussion

Sample Audio

Purchase CD: Indigo Shoes
Band Myspace Page
Band Website: Absynth Quintet

Posted by Ted at 06:32 AM