Happy Birthday Jethro!
Everytime March 10th rolls around, we are compelled to pay homage to the great mandolin legend and personal hero, and especially this year for what Read more»
Zdravitsa plays the Beatles
A little lip-syncing, or more accurately pick-syncing with members of this Russian balalaika orchestra under the direction of Andrei Krasnikov. (More members are actually on Read more»
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"Good improvisation communicates harmonic progression melodically. Effective melodies manipulate harmonic content through the use of guide tones and preparatory gravity notes, masterfully woven in systematic tension, release, and transparent harmonic definition."
February 27, 2009 | New and highly recommended: Planet Waves Headstock Tuner
Another new tuner? There is certainly no shortage of electronic tuners available; every individual player situation requires different features including responsiveness, accuracy, visibility, portability, placement, and of course price. We've had the privilege of testing the new Planet Waves PW-CT-10 headstock tuner the last several weeks and are absolutely wild about it.
Quick, light, responsive. Yeah, baby!
Low mass, the unit's stealth fitting lies unobtrusively on the edge of the headstock but it's easy-to-read LED face shows a virtual needle that glows red left and right, until you've centered the pitch and POP!, the readout turns green, visible at almost any angle. We've never experienced a tuner so intuitive and accurate.
These are supposed to be available soon, and at a mid $30 street price, you can afford to get several, one for each stage instrument.
We mentioned the Northampton, Massachusetts June 9-14th Django in June camp recently, and want to fill you in on the latest. They are off to a great early start, with Django Camp registrations so far from England, Texas, California, Ontario, both Washingtons, Nova Scotia, Nebraska and various points along the east coast. It looks to be another great year for Django in June. (Don't forget Jamie Masefield is heading up the mandolin workshops.)
Here are three tips from camp administrator Andrew Lawrence, offered to keep the festivities as affordable as possible for everyone who'd like to be there:
1. Early bird registration rate for Django Camp '09 ends soon! This Saturday, the last day of February, to be exact. After that the cost goes up by $50 a month. If you'd like to join us, preregister now and save.
2. Still on the fence? Lock in that early bird tuition rate anyway. If you are hoping to attend Django Camp but you're not quite ready to preregister, you can lock in that early bird tuition just by reponding to this email with a request that I pencil you in. That's it. Just a note saying that you are tentatively planning on being here (pending approval from the spouse, the work schedule, whatever) and you can register for Django Camp at the early bird rate through March.
3. Financial aid is now available. Need a hand? Just ask. In light of the economic woes on everyone's mind these days, I have decided to put the money we receive from our sponsors toward additional financial assistance this year. The pot currently stands at $3000 in available aid. Rather than fund just a few people in full, I would rather offer $100-$200 discounts off the cost of Django Camp for a larger number of people for whom that kind of break would make all the difference. If that sounds like you, just jot me a note and let's get you here. That's what the money is for.
Like Kermit first sang in the 70's, "It ain't easy being green." But it's certainly more interesting than being tobacco-burst. Our Hungarian friend Levy Levente is moving on to less greener pastures with his customized Rigel CT-110, and recently placed it for sale in the Mandolin Cafe Classifieds. While the professor of political sciences was teaching in the US just a few blocks from our office (he was a regular member of the JazzMando Instrument Evaluation and Research Staff), we personally followed Levy's journey when he first purchased the used Rigel in its previous incarnation, "It started its life as a tobacco sunburst G-110 in 1999. In 2006 I sent it back to Rigel's own Peter Langdale to get it set up and refinished to Emerald Green. (I always wanted an Emerald Green Rigel.) I jokingly mentioned: "that'll be it unless you can turn it into a CT". And he laughed and said he can. I have a letter from Pete somewhere explaining what he did and showing that it was him doing the work. He also put a new tailpiece and strap button on there. The old ones (included) were very worn. This is the older Rigel model so it has the strat style neckplate (also replaced). Pete said he likes these older models better as you do not have to drill through the fretboard to do neck work on it."
There was once a blue Rigel CT in the JazzMando museum that went through a similar color makeover and has since crossed the ocean for sale in the UK. These are great playing instruments and if the Emerald Green one is still for sale, it's a heckuva good deal. Levy's an okay guy, too.
Always nice to be kept abreast of when our mando stars get national airplay, and it's come to our attention that JazzMando icon/mentor Don Stiernberg was aurally quoted on NPR's "Fresh Air" with Terry Gross, in a 33 second clip of his 1999 interpretation of "Gone With the Wind" (About Time, Blue Night Records). Appropriately enough, Gross was interviewing actor Phillip Seymour Hoffman February 20th, in advance of the weekend's upcoming Oscar Award presentations.
February 19, 2009 | Jamie Masefield in a "Spring String" Maine mandolin workshop
New Englanders, put this on your "Save the Date" planner, contemporary mandolin pioneer Jamie Masefield has been enlisted to lead a one-day intense workshop April 4th, 2009 (9:00-4:00) at River Tree Arts, 35 Western Ave. in Kennebunk, Maine. From the River Tree Arts website: "Topics will include composition, performance, technique, speed development, tone, dynamics, expression and duet playing. Linear motion across chord progressions in both bluegrass and jazz will be translated into useful licks for session-playing and improvisation."
Instruction will be hands-on within the small group context (space limited so reserve now!), and there can be no doubt you'll come out of the experience a better player than when you went in. The workshop coordinator recommends coming with a piece or two prepared to perform in order to get valuable professional feedback, but all levels of ability are certainly welcome.
Registration is $95.00
Phone: 207.967.9120
Workshop Information website
Also plug in the date for the Django in June festival June 9-14, where Jamie will be teaching the mandolin classes all but the final day when Berklee Professor, John McGann will step in. Either opportunity to see Jamie should be an amazing experience, the mandolinist/composer has fronted the widely popular Jazz Mandolin Project for nearly two decades. We've especially enjoyed his contributions to our own PROFESSIONALS SOUND LAB on the Webtracks page.
We like sharing with you some of the personal comments we get from the educational materials available on the site. Perhaps what Patricia writes will be an encouragement to you as well:
"I have been using your free FFcP system off your website for about a year and it has helped me move from beginner to intermediate. I really don't have access to a good instructor nearby, so I have been struggling to learn mandolin for the past 4 or 5 years on my own. The FFcP system allowed me to break thru from just chording along to starting to play some melody, fills and lead breaks, particularly up the neck, at our local jams. My musical interests are quite varied, (and excludes most bluegrass) but I'd have to say that playing blues is my favorite. I have seen great reviews of your book on Mandolin Cafe and look forward to working through it.
"I noticed the Blues 501 in the Exercises/Techniques section of your website. I am very weak on music theory, but hope that with some work on your book, I can incorporate some knowledge to make use of the Blues 501 information."
Thanks Patrica, and of course the materials she mentioned here are covered even more in depth in the "Getting Into Jazz Mandolin Book." Still our Free Downloads Page is a great place to start!
February 15, 2009 | Edu Miranda Trio: Choro Mastery
A brilliant combination of native Fado, Brazilian Choro, and an American Jazz vocabulary, Eduardo Miranda brings to the globe a special music of virtuosity and calculated abandon. Born in 1968 in Brazil and now in Portugal where he has lived the past twenty years, the bandolimist has teamed up with guitar synthesist Tuniko Goulart and percussionist Giovani Goulart in a trio format packed with boundless energy and notes, never betraying simple line and recognizable melody. Having been immersed himself in Choro and a fascination for Brazilian culture (he studied in Sao Paulo) his first two decades, Edu offers his impeccable picking execution and fingering finesse with a matured arranging skill that tantalizes and satisifies.
He has been gracious enough to share 15 videos on YouTube of his last concert in Portugal. Block out some serious time to view these; they are truly stunning.
1. Brasileirinho Edu
2. Homem das castanhas
3. Tico Tico no Fubá
4. Odeon
5. Forrozado
6. Lisboa Menina e Moça
7. Dar de Beber á Dor
8. Fado Lisboeta
9. Tem Baile Sim
10 Baião Nosso
11. Karoço
12. Foi Deus
13. Tintol (Alma Brasileira)
14. Não Feche os Olhos
15. Maria Migalha
February 13, 2009 | New Clark Octave Mandolin to Wintergrass
We released some sneak previews of Idaho premier builder Austin Clark's new 2-point mandola last November (see New at Clark Mandolins), and alluded to a brand new Octave Mandolin design. These and a bevy of new mandolins Austin has been frantically preparing the last 10 months are all headed for Tacoma, Washington for his exhibit the annual Wintergrass festival. We had hoped to send our research correspondent crew there as well, but they were unable to attend personally. However, we have been able to ship the flagship Clark JM signature model for you to get a glimpse if you're attending. This instrument sparkles sonically, and has had a year to get some maturity mojo in its grains. Stop by the booth and take it for a spin.
We also have exclusive pictures for you to drool over, his new Bigleaf Maple, Engelmann Spruce 20" scale (14.245" at the bout) Octave Mandolin. Joined at the 12th fret with "S" holes, the form is its own unique take on the classic archtop form. According to Austin, "The design is loosely based on the body of the D'Angelico New Yorker, but I was looking for a more feminine, sexy version than the hunky masculinity that the New Yorker has. I originally drew it as a 22" scale but I wanted to put the bridge in a different place than that allowed and still join the neck/body at the 12th fret. Plus, the smaller scale length just appealed to me. After some string experimentation, I think it works pretty well. I am not above trying the longer scale length in a future model. He notes the compromise here was to achieve better playability with the shorter neck, but still retain the sonority of a longer length. No doubt this is going to be one comfortable critter to play, and if it sings as well as the JM, this instrument is going to be a force to contend with.
The artist also dreams of a cutaway 5-course version, and rumors abound of a yet-to-be determined fanned fret 5-course mandola (the "Fandola") for a premier jazz mandolin author.
We'll see...
Meantime check out these amazing shots (click for closeup):
February 11, 2009 | Grupo Falso Baiano: Progressive Choro and Jazz
We have very much enjoyed the recent release from Bay Area instrumentalists Grupo Falso Baiano and their CD "Viajando: Choro e Jazz." Joined by high-profile regional guest musicans Jovino Santos Neto, Eva Scow, and Michael Spiro, the group offers a special blend of Brazilian tradition with a contemporary twist, a sometimes European classical sensibility infused with a modern American jazz harmonic vocabulary. The project is effectively "cosmopolitan" without betraying its indigenous Brazilian roots.
Special kudos to Mandolinist Jesse Appelman who articulates eloquently on bandolim, executing artful solos midst a supportive accompaniment role. These are great musicians and do a commendable job capturing and expressing the rich heritage in this vibrant music.
February 9, 2009 | JP Charles Luthier; new BSA5 semi-acoustic 5-string electric mandolin.
We've mentioned him before, Brazilian luthier Jean Paul Charles just introduced his latest, a 5-string version of his arch-top BAS4 electric. As with his 4-string, 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 U$ 2180 includes clear natural nitrocellulose finish, and a rectangular hard case.
BSA 5 with humbucker and piezo pickup combination
Ivorywood neck
February 7, 2009 | The February 2009 Mel Bay "Mandolin Sessions" is up!
The February MandolinSessions issue is now online for you to absorb and enjoy. Noted columnists include Michael Gregory who gives us jig with chords, Missouri builder Joe Mendel in an interview with esteemed luthier John Hamlett, and JazzMando friend, northern lattitudes Wendy Anthony who charms the soul with varations on the familiar "Arkansas Traveler." The MandolinSession online resources are updated every two months for your benefit, and at no charge. Be sure to support Mel Bay Publishing with an ocassional purchase, or just drop them a note of thanks.
We've been writing for this site for six years now, collecting 32 archived articles for you to revisit on here at the JazzMando site: Jazz Mandology. This last article is probably the best one at taking the closed finger strategy (FFcP) and applying its transposable benefits to real world improvising. We look at altering the pattern with a raised 4th scale degree and using them for simple improvising in one of the concept songs out of the Getting Into Jazz Mandolin" book in Part 1 of our "Path to Modal Improvising" series.
In April, we'll look at applying extended chord voices and Pentatonic scales for some new improvising vocabularies in Part 2.
February 5, 2009 | Playing Musically: a four-part "Tips & Tricks" series
Hopefully you are aware of the "Tips and Tricks" resources here on the JazzMando website. We produce a weekly posting of bite-size concepts to help you with your playing, and currently, we've entered nearly 200 different articles. You can locate concepts through the search function in the upper right hand corner on of the header (try typing "Playing Musically" for example) or browse through the archive page in the Tips Section.
Speaking of "Playing Musically," we just finished a four part series on that very topic. Might be a good place to start your long journey through this resource.
February 3, 2009 | Eva Scow releases CD under new label
Word up that California mandolin virtuoso Eva Scow and guitarist Dusty Brough have just re-released their exemplary 2007 recording "Sharon by the Sea" under the Adventure Music label. New cover, new distribution machinery, but the same music that completely wowed us a little over a year ago. If you missed it the first time, make sure you get this one in your library.
Eva's playing is spectacular and musically wise beyond her years. We wrote one of our wordiest reviews ever, the superlatives were a challenge to condense.
We've been given a sneak peak of Kirk Morrison's new C# mandolin coming off the workbench of noted luthier/researcher Dr. Dave Cohen. The Richmond, Virginia builder is legendary for his passionate combination of chemistry, physics, and woodworking (as well as designing some award winning mandolins), and has published such in-depth subjects as the geometry of curtate cycloid arching in the latest issue of American Lutherie. (#96, Winter, 2008)
"Mandolins, guitars, and the physics of both have been such a large part of my life since 1999 that it is hard for me to give a concise statement of what I do, what I think, and what guides my lutherie," confesses Dr. Cohen. His interest in mandolins and guitars dates back to his years in school in Florida State University, but building would not be his full-time career until retiring from teaching college chemistry in 2003.
You might recall the good doctor's work was profiled in the December 2001 issue of Mandolin Quarterly; "A Scientific Approach to Mandolin Construction." He also submitted an abstract in 2003 (Acoustical Science and Technology, 24, 1, pp 1-6) with Thomas Rossing using electronic TV holography studying the vibrational modes of four mandolins and a mandola. "The lowest (0,0) modes may appear as a triplet (as in a guitar) or as a doublet. The modal frequencies correlate well with the frequency response curves. Sound spectra indicate that sound radiation is quite uniform over the 0-5 kHz range with some roll-off above 2.5 kHz."
We're looking forward to bringing you more of the information and art of Dave Cohen with an official review of one of his instruments in the not-too-distant future.
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February 27, 2009 | New and highly recommended: Planet Waves Headstock Tuner
