New Stonewood mandolin case from Protec Music
We're always interested in reporting new and cost-effective ways to protect and mobilize mandolins, especially when a case is versatile to fit many different body Read more»
08.30.10
New Paul Glasse Videos
Video treats from one of the planet's most amazing jazz mandolinists, Austin Texas stalwart, Paul Glasse. The first is a rare opportunity to witness a 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."
We mentioned a couple days ago Jamie Masefield'sDjango in June appearance as clinician, but we failed to bring up an even more imminent event, this weekend April 4th! Jamie has been enlisted to lead a one-day intense workshop (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, and you're guaranteed to come out a better player than when you went in. All levels of ability welcome.
Musicians talk about subjective experiences, playing "in the groove" or "in the pocket." Latest research from the BioMedical Neuroscience website from the Max Planck Institute in Germany and the University of Salzburg verifies a substantive physical phenomenon. Eight pairs of guitarists playing while hooked up to an electroencephalograph machine measured brain electrical activity demonstrated synchronization, the frontal and central regions of the brain showing strongest synch.
Music does bring us together emotionally and according to these studies, physiolgoically. "In everyday life, people often need to coordinate their actions with that of others," the authors wrote. "Some common examples are walking with someone at a set pace, playing collective sports or fighting, dancing, playing music in a duet or group, and a wide range of social bonding behaviors."
We'll spare you any disparaging jokes about brains and banjo players; you can use your own imagination on that.
We want to remind you to catch genre-busting mandolinist, Jamie Masefield the week of June 8 through 11 as mandolin instructor at Django in June , New England's premier Gypsy jazz music camp, celebrating the sounds of Django Reinhart. This takes place at Smith College in Northampton MA.
As part of the weeklong festivities, Mamavig (Jamie with Frank Vignola, guitar and Gary Mazzaroppi, upright bass) will perform a concert on Thursday, June 11 that is also open to the public and not to be missed.
There will be lots of amazing musicians from around the world there. Jamie's looking forward to talking about jazz and theory but also things like tone, practicing tips, time and ways of looking at improvising.
When we sell a "Getting Into Jazz Mandolin" book from the JazzMando Merchandise Center, we always solicit feedback on customer future progress. Here are some observations from Jim:
"I had some time to read the first section of your Jazz Mandolin text. At first, I was confused by the 1st Finger, 2nd Finger thing, but I now understand. As I looked at this material, and thought for a while, it became clear to me what possibilities are opened up by learning the roadmaps. This is very cool stuff! I plan to start working on it, and venture up the neck at the right time. I can see how knowing the locations of the half steps will be important. And, as a guitar player, the "symmetry" of the mandolin is very refreshing.
I can't promise I'll be a jazz mandolin player, but I know this material will form a strong foundation for me. Great work, and I hope more players will take a good look at this."
As Jim has so eloquently pointed out, we don't think the book is exclusive to jazzers; much of the physical training and fretboard awareness will improve your playing in all genres.
March 23, 2009 | Berklee Acoustic String Festival - July 18-21, 2009
JazzMando fave, John McGann, Berklee College of Music Professor and member of the Wayfaring Strangers, Rust Farm , and Boston Edge will be part of the Berklee Summer String Festival on July 18-21, 2009.
From the Berklee Website: "The last decade has seen an explosion of talent and creativity in all the musical worlds inhabited not only by violin, viola, and cello, but also banjo, mandolin, and related instruments. Young players now view it as their goal to learn jazz and classical as well as bluegrass and various other folk styles. Modern string virtuosos such as Bela Fleck, Mark O'Connor, and Chris Thile have set an enormously high bar in terms of instrumental craft, compositional sophistication, and chamber music and band skills.
This year, Berklee unveils the Acoustic String Festival to recognize these advances. The program will build on the core curriculum of past String Fling programs, teaching improvisation to violin, viola, and cello players, but expanding that teaching to admit other instruments traditionally found in a bluegrass band such as acoustic mandolin and guitar. Players will have the opportunity to study with and be coached by world-renowned mandolinist John McGann, and be trained in musical elements necessary to perform at a high level in a wide range of roots music styles."
McGann will be joined by instructors: Eugene Friesen, cellist with the Paul Winter Consort and one of the world's greatest improvising cellists; Matt Glaser, chair of Berklee's String Department, author of four books on contemporary string styles, and well-known teacher and performer; Chris Howes, versatile violinist/composer who has performed and/or recorded with Randy Brecker, Jack DeJohnette, Les Paul, Lenny White, and others; Rob Thomas, fantastic modern jazz violinist and bassist who has performed with the String Trio of New York and the Mahavishnu Project, among others.
Each day, teachers will help you with topics such as harmonic development, sight-reading, rhythmic development in jazz, improvisational considerations, and string quartet coaching. At the end of the program, you will have the opportunity to perform in one of the college's recital halls, in either solo or quartet settings. Space is limited and those wishing to secure campus housing should act now. For additional information, requirements and registration information, see the festival web site.
Hard to believe it's been seven years since registering the domain name for JazzMando.com. They talk about the proverbial seven-year itch where person tires of a routine (or job, house, spouse) and chooses to move on. We'll have none of that here; we plan to keep a good thing going! (Too much fun to stop now...)
After the resounding success of our "Getting Into Jazz Mandolin" last Fall, we're finalizing contract negotiations with Mel Bay Publishing for the next book, and are proud to be collaborating with the world's foremost authority on jazz mandolin, Don Stiernberg. The Ted/Don project is tentatively titled "Jazz Mandolin Appetizers," and varies from the more comprehensive, curriculum approach of the 120 page format of GiJM, to something more bite size (pun intended).
Sample chapters include Crunchy Chords, Delicious Reharm, Spicy Blues, Organic Pentatonic, and Lick Pantry, within a more palatable 48-60 pages. Don's already ahead of the game and has penned several examples on a healthy supply of cocktail napkins; we hope to start transcribing the mentor's genius into publisher-ready material over the next few months. You've already been enjoying his quarterly Jazz columns at Mandolin Magazine. Soon you'll be able to get it in book and CD form!
Do you have any additional ideas what a good jazz mandolin sampler book should have? Help us out. Tell us what you'd like to see in print and supporting audio.
Our favorite emando builder, Tennessee craftsman Jon Mann has caught our eye with his latest finish "coral reef" (made him think of the Cayman Islands--us, too) on his widely popular SEM-5 double cutaway. Inspired by a Brian Moore guitar, the specs are as follows:
Quilted maple top, Honduran Mahogany back, Birds-eye maple neck, Coral Reef finish, matching headstock. 14.5" scale. 12" radiused Macassar Ebony board. Graph Tech nut, 2 Dimarzio pro track pickups. Gold hardware. Wrap around tailpiece is hand machined from aircraft grade aluminum then triple gold plated. The combination of neck thru construction and wrap around tailpiece make it great for sustain...
March 17, 2009 | 100,000 note check up: "The Mechanic's Corvette" by James Condino
It's a recurring theme, what does a builder or repairman chose to play in his/her own instrument quiet time. What does a chef eat at home, what does an auto mechanic drive to work? The question is asked and answered poetically by one of our favorite builders, James Condino in his tome, "The Mechanics Corvette." We published this about a year ago and it bears a re-read:
We don't like to do this often, but because of the upcoming Spring Break, we are unable to staff the JazzMando Merchandise Center for shipments of strings, picks, cloths, and books for a one-week period starting March 20th. If you need JM strings or any of these items please be sure to get your orders in by Thursday, March 19th for prompt shipment. We'll resume processing orders on March 30th.
We appreciate your support!
Okay, confession time. Site Administrator Eschliman is heading off for a long-deserved week-long vacation, and internet access on the cruise ship will be somewhat limited during that period. Looking forward to coming back tanned and refreshed...
Musicians really don't appreciate how good they have it during troubled times. The momentary emotional safe harbor, the oasis of self-expression, the opportunity to connect with other souls is such a privilege we own as musicians, and it's never been more clear than during the unsettling forces of today's economic condition. Site administrator Ted Eschliman recently had the opportunity to discuss this issue during a morning drive radio interview March 13th on KLIN radio in the Cornhusker State. If you've got about 10 minutes to listen to some aural cheer, check out the Podcast link below. Though it's not so much about mandolins, it is about the benefits of making music and investing in musical equipment:
For those of you who might have missed the great mandolin innovator, Jethro Burn's birthday (born March 10, 1920, Knoxville, TN), we swiped a great "Top Ten" list from his most famous protege, Don Stiernberg for you to enjoy (thanks, Don!):
TOP TEN WAYS TO PAY TRIBUTE TO OUR FAVORITE MANDOLIN PLAYER ON HIS BIRTHDAY:
1. Try to play Tico -Tico
2. Arrange a tune chord-melody style
3. Have a baloney sandwich
4. Dig up the old Mandolin World News magazines and re-read "Jethro Speaks" columns. All are great, but perhaps "Recipe for Possum Quiche" would best suit the occasion
5. Try to play "Jethro's Tune". At tempo.
6. Listen again to "Playing it Straight" and "It Ain't Necessarily Square", the Holy Grail of jazz mandolin.
7. Play "When You Wish Upon a Star", his favorite tune (or 'chune,' as Jeffo might say..)
8. Go to YouTube and experience some of the Homer and Jethro magic
9. Listen to Back to Back
10. Revisit his Mel Bay tutorials. You know, the ones Carlo Aonzo has memorized by page number. Any page will do.
11. Play the notes on your mandolin as cleanly as possible.
12. Put a bunch of triplets into your solo. Also quote "Nola".
13. Make a prediction about the likelihood of a Cubs' World Series victory.
14. End on a C7b5
15. Play your mandolin for fun, and to make other people happy.
.....sorry, I couldn't keep it to just ten.
Love You Jethro,
donnie
_________________
sincerely, Don Stiernberg
We love hearing from our readers what resources here at JazzMando are personally beneficial; it helps us not only generate more Tips and Tricks articles, in some cases, becomes fodder for new publishing products. We will soon be making an official announcement about a collaborative effort with jazz mandolin giant and personal mentor, Don Stiernberg pending contract negotiations with Mel Bay Publishing on a brand new project, "Jazz Mandolin Appetizers." More on this venture forthcoming...
Meantime, here's some helpful comments from Ann in Alabama:
"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 Ann; we hope we can continue to help others grow in their mando pursuits! Of course we go a bit more in depth on many of the web topics in the recently released book, "Getting Into Jazz Mandolin."
We've enjoyed tremendous success with the JM11 JazzMando flatwound strings made by Labella, having recently expanded to the JD13 mandola version, and last year, the JM10B ball-end electric mandolin. We continue to try to improve the product, including making adjustments to the length of the playing area (between the silk windings) and reinforcing the loop on the .011 gg E string.
For the most part, we've seen the progress and popularity increase beyond the jazzer and into the classical genres, occasionally we get feedback from Folk/Bluegrass enthusiasts that still seek the warmer, rounded sound these strings offer, let alone their smooth playability.
That said, there has been a recent rash of problems with the D string loops we need to make our customers aware of. This has emerged in our most recent batch of 200 sets, and we've been able to promptly replace these strings when notified. What is happening is some of these were wound too tightly on the loop, yield a circumference too small to fit on standard tailpiece tangs. In a few instances, this has affected the string's core, making it impossible to intonate correctly up the fretboard.
The JM11 string packages are factory sealed for tarnish protection, but for the time being, we are currently pre-empting potential D-string issues by opening the inner cover for personal inspection prior to shipment. Faulty strings are being immediately removed and replaced. It's important to us to discover the problem early, on our side of the sales transaction. If you purchase a package and the inside plastic is open, it's because we checked. These are quite time consuming, labor intensive steps, but we insist your satisfaction is contingent on a string that not only sounds and feels good, but is trouble free.
We appreciate everyone's patience while we get this worked out, and trust the next batch won't have these issues. Feel free to contact us if you've purchased a set where the D loop is too small, or the courses don't play in tune up the fingerboard. These are still a terrific string and quite popular. We intend to go the extra mile and work with the manufacturer closely to keep them that way.
Gotta love a good story in "depressing" times, and CNN reporter Stephanie Chen nails it with her February 24th article "Bad economy? Do what you love." Chen documents several individuals who have lost their jobs and gone on to more satisfying opportunities, including 55 year-old Jim Penson of Arlington, Texas who went from a cubicle life in the information technology field to offering banjo and mandolin lessons with his own teaching business.
Some are finding, despite a pay cut, a more satisfying lifestyle can be out there. Sometimes it take a sour economy or a lay-off to find that out.
March 3, 2009 | Catching up with Christopher Guest
Update on writer/director/comedian Christopher Guest, famous for his stint on Saturday Night Live and rockumentary "Spinal Tap," now Beyman Brothers mandolinist/recording artist. We've thoroughly enjoyed their recent instrumental release, "Memories of Summer as a Child" (see January archive Christopher Guest "taps" into acoustic), and are pleased to read about another Tap reunion with actor/musicians Michael McKean and Harry Shearer later this spring.
According to the March 2nd interview in Paste Magazine, Guest learned mandolin while playing gigs in high school with Arlo Guthrie. Despite his incredible success in television and movies, he's always maintained a music lifestyle playing mandolin, guitar, and clarinet.
We can't say enough good things about the new Mike Marshall "Big Trio" CD release. Partnering with 2007 Weiser Grand Championship winner, fiddler Alex Hargreaves and Punch Brothers bassist, Paul Kowert, the three fill an amazing amount of the sonic spectrum bottom to top, with a fresh combination of classical, jazz, and folk in the self-titled project of original compositions. Marshall returns to his famous mandocello mastery with his faster than the speed of light picking and supportive accompanying, and the junior musicians demonstrate a proficiency and musical sensitivity far beyond their years.
Of special interest to us is Mike's new Lawrence Smart10-string which shines on "Back to the Castle," but speaking of Mandocello, enjoy Mike on his Monteleone on the following Jody March YouTube video captured at last week's Wintergrass Festival in Tacoma, Washington:
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March 31, 2009 | More Jamie!
