Old-time segment on npr

[John Flynn]

I friend of mine told me about the NPR story at the link below. It is ostensibly about clawhammer banjo, but it is really about old-time in general. I especially like the one quote that goes something like, "The music (OT)is 'tribal,' except that the tribe has no chief. All the musicians are doing thier own individual thing, but they are all doing it together." It is a good description of an aspect of OT I find very attractive, but hard to explain to people who don't appreciate the genre. It also reinforced my belief that while some forms of banjo playing may be irritating to some people, great clawhammer playing can be really great stuff.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5293105

[Jim Garber]

Paul Brown was my first banjo teacher when he lived in New York. He is deep into old time for many years having played with many of the old timers down south. It is almost funny to hear him as one of NPR's news anchors.

Jim

[Red Englemann]

I am passionant about old time music because of what it represents in the production of an art form coming from non professionals. This continues to give this kind music a very individual rendering and without the many parameters that commericalistically produced.

I see old time becoming more and more popular as it did in the late 50's and 60's as listener attempt to latch onto something authentic and real.

I play several instruments including banjo and I agree that this is a wonderful instrument with many possibiiities. I play a three finger or two finger style with or without finger picks depending on what sound I want. These are not necessarily very difficult instruments to play and I recommend getting one to try. I would like to get a fretless banjo someday. I have a Recording King openback that is an exceptionally good sound and well built instrument that I paid less than $650 for.

red

[JGWoods]

Paul taught me 3 fiddle tunes at the last Old Time Music Camp.
Walking that pretty girl home
Johnny get your hair cut
Sugar in the Gourd- I knew that one but his version danced better than mine.
He has a great teaching style for a small group and comes up with lots of good tunes in a jam.

[JEStanek]

Thanks for the link. That was a trmendous segment. More music for my wish list.

BTW, in a similar vein, I recently got In Sacred Trust: The 1963 Fleming Brown Tapes (of Hobart Smith (Guitar, Fiddle and OT Banjo)). That's a great CD as well. IT's on the Smithsonian Label.

Jamie