View Full Version : Shook hands with a legend last night
maroon
May-22-2005, 11:24pm
My family and I went to the Fire on the Strings festival this weekend, in Magnolia, Texas (just west of Conroe, just north of Houston). Jesse McReynolds and the Virginia Boys were the headliners. Folks, I was blown away. Jesse is unbelievably great.
I was moved to tears 2 or 3 times during his performances.
I bought two albums this weekend. "Bending the Rules" features Jesse and a young fiddler phenom, Travis Wetzel. The cut, Okeechobee Wind, was alone well worth the price. My other favorite number, El Cumbanchero, features the hottest mandolin I have ever seen performed.
I also bought "A Tribute to Brother Duets" which Jesse recorded with Charles Whitstein. (Charles had a Bluegrass act with his brother and lost him about the same time that Jesse lost his brother, Jim. Jesse and Charles now tour together and carry on the tradition of "Brother Duets"). The first cut, "Gone but Not Forgotten" was particularly powerful to see live. Charles barely made it though the performance. The entire album is filled with some of the sweetest harmonies I've ever heard.
Jesse signed both albums and even let me take his picture with my family. Simply a fantastic weekend! If you, like me, have never before seen Jesse and get a chance to see this legend in person, do whatever it takes to be there!
swampstomper
May-23-2005, 12:17am
What a great story! It's good to see Jesse continuing on, and Charles Whitstein (who I heard years ago with his brother) can step into Jim's shoes (although Jim's tenor was a one-off... not Ira, not Bill, not Ralph... but Jim).
And for mando. players who are always advised to keep a stiff wrist, use a heavy pick, and never anchor -- watch Jesse tickle the strings and you will see what it means to be a unique stylist.
mandopete
May-23-2005, 8:38am
I have said it before and I'll say it again - I think Jesse McReynolds in the most underated mandolin player in bluegrass - thanks for the post!
SternART
May-23-2005, 8:47am
Great job Maroon, I always enjoy posts about performances around the country.
Sounds like you caught a special one, wish I was there!
Andrew Reckhart
May-23-2005, 8:55am
Any idea what Mandolin he was using on stage? I'm curious. He has played his Stiver for 20 some years, but I know Gibson has been working on a mandolin for him for a while now. Maybe it is what he uses live currently.
csstanley
May-23-2005, 9:03am
I have said it before and I'll say it again - I think Jesse McReynolds in the most underated mandolin player in bluegrass - thanks for the post!
I totally agree with you.
I got Jesse and Bobby Osborne's CD, 'Master's of The Mandolin' and love every song on it.
I do suggest that if any of you don't have this, GET IT. Especially for us Mando lovers, cause you'll truly love this CD.
maroon: Thanks for posting. I guess it's life, but our Bluegrass legends are leaving us too fast. Any time you get to visit with one - even if perhaps he's not your particular "favorite" - do it!! - They've earned the place - and respect. Just my .02. Incidently, Jim and Jesse did an album several years ago titled "Jim & Jesse Salute the Louvin Brothers" - What a wonderful "mutual-admiration-society", these Bluegrass pickers are... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
maroon
May-23-2005, 10:47pm
Glad everybody enjoyed hearing my little story. As for what mandolin Jesse played, it wasn't a Gibson.
good_ol_al_61
May-24-2005, 7:27am
Maroon:
My thoughts exactly. I am sure that Jesse is either 80 or real close.
Click on the link below and look at the second post. It contains a personal story of Jesse and myself very similar to yours.
I sent an email to Jesse thanking him for his kindness. His wife sent me a reply. She said that she shared my letter with Jesse and he was moved. She also said that everytime Jesse gets down and thinks that his music has run it's course, he receives a kind letter and it re-energizes him to keep going.
So you are right! We need to support these guys every chance we get. It gives them reason to expend themselves in our behalf so we can be entertained. In turn, we can let them know that they are appreciated!
A Jesse Story (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=15;t=23665;hl=good_ol_al_61 )
Big Joe
May-24-2005, 8:35am
I have no idea what mandolin he was using at this event, but his Gibson has been in his hands for at least a year. It is pretty cool. It has cowboy boot inlays that look like a "J". Also, Mike Scott played banjo with them this week. Great banjo player and a wonderful guy. Charlie Whitstein is a good mandolin player also. He and his brother, Frank, were a great duet. Charlie is a good a guy as there is. I'm sure the event was a great one and I wish I could have been there.
Hey Joe! - No harm intended - or bein' "picky", but Charles Whitstein's brother(now deceased) was Robert. I know them from their work with the Louvin Brothers music. Charles traveled with Charlie for a while. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
maroon
May-24-2005, 9:07pm
My thoughts exactly. I am sure that Jesse is either 80 or real close.
The liner notes to one of the albums indicate Jesse will be 75 in July.
And, Big Joe, thanks to Gibson for providing the first place prizes for the Texas State Banjo and Flatpicking contest.
Big Joe
May-25-2005, 11:42am
Hey Moose...you are right! I can't believe I called Robert by the wrong name. I have no idea where that came from. I guess it's old age kicking in! Boy, talk about embarrassed! Robert was a fine man.
Moose
May-25-2005, 12:33pm
Hey Joe!(*Ops!, now THERE was a song!) - Nooooo problem! - You just keep on buildin' them great mandolins! - Moose http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif
jmcgann
May-26-2005, 11:35am
And for mando. players who are always advised to keep a stiff wrist,
Bad advice for ANY string player, IMHO!
Jesse is the greatest! His tracks on Bluegrass Mandolin Extravaganza are just beyond belief. What an amazing player.
ashemando
Jun-07-2005, 9:32pm
If anyone is still reading, I had the luck to get to noodle a bit on Jesse's mando 3 days ago. Was the old Stiver, and what a sound it made! He and his wife Joy are very gracious and accessible.And his music is legendary.See him if you can.
Ditto to the above! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Unclelevi
Jun-13-2005, 5:06pm
You all are right. Jesse is one of the greatest. This spring a VERY rare thing happened in this bluegrass void of North Dakota (well not completely void, but sparse for sure). Jesse and his group, Rhonda Vincent, Sonny and Bobby Osborn and the Whites all appeared in one 2 hour show in Devil's Lake ,North Dakota. WHAT a GREAT show!!!! Only $10.00 per ticket and it was one of the best times of my life. What made it even better was how very personable all these stars were after the show. It was great to actually get to talk to each of them. What a group of terrific people. Sure made me love bluegrass even more!!