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

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.

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."

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

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

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

Theloar.com has 360-degree views of all mandolin and guitar models, detailed views of unique specifications, and a user-friendly "Buy It Now" feature that leads visitors directly to an online store's product page for purchase. The website also has a slideshow illustrating the hand carved process, as well as a video walk-through of each instrument's features and sound by Travis Atz, The Loar’s Director of Product Development.

Enjoy: The Loar

From the Mandolin Cafe Official Press Release: "Pacific, Mo. -- Mel Bay Publications, Inc. has announced the release of Ted Eschliman's new book, Getting Into Jazz Mandolin, 112-pages complete with music in standard notation, tablature, CD and web-based audio samples from JazzMando.com, Eschliman's personal mandolin web site.

An emphasis on pinky strength, finger control and sustain, the book's exercises also develop the player's concepts of tone and melody. Further supportive resources including MP3 audio tracks are also available on the internet."

Note the book is currently available for preorders at most of the bigger popular online book retailers (Googling the title might yield some even at a discount). Elderly Music has committed to a heavy stock, also, but if you'd like to support this site, we are offering two versions, one unadulterated for $25 including domestic shipping, the other option $35 for an autographed version, with $10 being donated to the Cool Mandolins "Mandolins for Cool Kids" scholarship fund. (International orders available to many countries available for an additional $10.) Thanks for all of you who have waited so patiently.

Don't forget to check out the support page with additional audio tracks, Webtracks, including some versions of the material recorded by the world's top mandolinists. Tell your favorite artist he/she needs to add a track here, too!

More information: Getting Into Jazz Mandolin.

Ironically, the company's product was initially touted for its merits as a roadworthy, resilient instrument boasting of an "alternative material" capable of standing up to duress of temperature and humidity extremes and rapid changes, always a peril with the traveling professional. What soon became common knowledge among players worldwide over the next few succeeding months was that the instruments with their world class design and construction boast of a playability and acoustic qualities highly competitive with other traditional instruments in an even higher price range.

During the Summer 2007 NAMM show, exhibitors complained of the harsh, rapid climate change as the hall's air conditioners in the extreme Texas summer climate kicked in the first day. Manufacturers' reps and technicians scrambled to retune their instruments prior to the onslaught of vendors at the opening of the show, while the New-Mad display staff relaxed with Cappuccinos and jammed on player-ready, completely tuned instruments.

We enjoyed reviewing one out of the initial batch of Mix A5 prototypes and not long after, acquired a personal one for "extended field research." The instrument has stood the test of time, providing stellar stage performance and plugged-in moxy. Read review: JazzMando New-MAD Review

Company website: New Millennium Acoustic Design

New-MAD models can be purchased online from JazzMando Sponsor "Acoustic Vibes Music"

Special JazzMando Insider information: If you are interested in a reduced price on a demo version A5, contact us: JazzMando Demo Mix A5

Five issues we investigated in this November 2006 entry:
*Missing, not milking the sweet spot with the fretting fingers
*Inaccurate pick timing (RH/LH coordination)
*Choking or failing to hold the tone through to the start of the next note.
*Running out of gas, prematurely losing phrase intensity
*Tepid pick stroking, lack of "follow-through."

These are all profoundly significant factors to eliminate in the pursuit of good tone. Developing practice habits that minimize these common mistakes will have a major impact on your ability to produce the best sound possible out of your mandolin.

Read "Cataloging Bad Tone."

Check out more archived JazzMando Tips and Tricks.

Special thanks to our good friend and Special JazzMando East Coast Research Assistant, Larry Sherman for capturing the moment:

São Jorge/Big Country

View more from Larry's YouTube Channel.

We thought you'd get a kick out of this, and if it's been awhile since you studied this in your sophomore English Lit class, we've repeated the original prose below.

Hipsters, flipsters, and finger-poppin' daddies,
Knock me your lobes,
I came to lay Ceasar out,
Not to hip you to him.
The bad jazz that a cat blows,
Wails long after he's cut out.
The groovey is often stashed with their frames,
So don't put Caesar down.
The swinging Brutus hath laid a story on you
That Caesar was hungry for power.
If it were so, it was a sad drag,
And sadly hath the Caesar cat answered it.
Here with a pass from Brutus and the other brass,
For Brutus is a worthy stud,
Yea, so are they all worthy studs,
Though their stallions never sleep.
I came to wail at Ceasar's wake.
He was my buddy, and he leveled with me.
Yet Brutus digs that he has eyes for power,
And Brutus is a solid cat.
It is true he hath returned with many freaks in chains
And brought them home to Rome.
Yea, the looty was booty
And hip the trays we weld(?)
Dost thou dig that this was Caesar's groove
For the putsch?
When the cats with the empty kicks hath copped out,
Yea, Caesar hath copped out, too,
And cried up a storm.
To be a world grabber a stiffer riff must be blown.
Without bread a stud can't even rule an anthill.
Yet Brutus was swinging for the moon.
And, yea, Brutus is a worthy stud.
And all you cats were gassed on the Lupercal
When he came on like a king freak.
Three times I lay the kingly wig on him,
And thrice did he put it down.
Was this the move of a greedy hipster?
Yet, Brutus said he dug the lick,
And, yes, a hipper cat has never blown.
Some claim that Brutus' story was a gag.
But I dug the story was solid.
I came here to blow.
Now, stay cool while I blow.
You all dug him once
Because you were hipped that he was solid
How can you now come on so square
Now that he's tapped out of this world.
City Hall is flipped
And swung to a drunken zoo
And all of you cats are goofed to wig city.
Dig me hard.
My ticker is in the coffin there with Caesar,
And, yea, I must stay cool til it flippeth back to me.

From LORD BUCKLEY IN CONCERT, Demon Verbals
Transcribed by Earl Rivers

Original Shakespeare:
ANTONY
Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;
I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.
The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft interred with their bones;
So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus
Hath told you Caesar was ambitious:
If it were so, it was a grievous fault,
And grievously hath Caesar answer'd it.
Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest--
For Brutus is an honourable man;
So are they all, all honourable men--
Come I to speak in Caesar's funeral.
He was my friend, faithful and just to me:
But Brutus says he was ambitious;
And Brutus is an honourable man.
He hath brought many captives home to Rome
Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill:
Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?
When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept:
Ambition should be made of sterner stuff:
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;
And Brutus is an honourable man.
You all did see that on the Lupercal
I thrice presented him a kingly crown,
Which he did thrice refuse: was this ambition?
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;
And, sure, he is an honourable man.
I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke,
But here I am to speak what I do know.
You all did love him once, not without cause:
What cause withholds you then, to mourn for him?
O judgment! thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason. Bear with me;
My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar,
And I must pause till it come back to me.

We have the first two lessons repeated in the Mandolin Cafe Lessons section, and of course, the bulk of all 120 pages of "Getting Into Jazz Mandolin" incorporates this perception of the frets. If you have been introduced to the first lesson and have spent more than a few months on these exercises (it takes this long!), you're ready to move into some of the more advanced studies. Visit our FFcP Survey Page.

Go deep!

Visit FFcP Index

Listen to Dorian's Grey.
Download leadsheet: Dorian's Grey PDF
Check out other audio support materials on the Webtracks page.
Publisher's description: Getting Into Jazz Mandolin

Special thanks to Mark Wilson, and our other professionals who are contributing to this ongoing project!

Combining the American West langauge of acoustic "Cowboy" sounds, guitar, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, the futuristic setting also infused many Asian acoustic instruments and blended a unique interplay of East meets West. Listening to the score is as much a pleasure as watching the captivating scenery, acting, and intriguing plot. Even if you aren't/weren't a fan of the series, we recommend acquring the soundtrack CD of the show!

Hear: Firefly Soundtrack

Info about the composer: Greg Edmonson

More Firefly Fan Stuff