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Scott,
I have yet to meet you (face to face), but I really love Mandolin Cafe. Thanks for doing it!
Nick Royal
Santa Cruz, CA (home of the Mandolin Symposium)

A violinist with the Santa Cruz Symphony also has a viola. I asked her about it, and she said it was made by Gibson during the WWII years. I understand that they didn't make too many instruments...

I think that sometimes bowl back mandolins (ie. classical mandolins) have a somewhat sharp tone. Sometimes I find
myself wanting to hear a classical performer play their piece on a good American A...

Martin,
I like the duets. (I have John's Midwestern Duets book and like some of them a lot. Also good practice for my sight
reading.) I enjoyed your photos w. the recording.
Nick Royal
Santa...

It's a great album. It's like he's updated the New Lost City Ramblers in ways. I love "Cotton Eyed Joe," in
particular!
Nick Royal - Santa Cruz (home of the Mandolin Symposium)

Check out Carmel Music. He carries quite a few Kimble mandolins.

One more thought: the Rio was packed, and afterwards I would have liked to been able to talk to some of the musicians. I guess
I am spoiled by house concerts and attending the Kuumbwa Jazz Club in...

I was at the show last night too, and amazed at how tight the band was. I had trouble hearing Chris' lyrics...the sound or my hearing? I liked the bass player a lot, and on the internet see that...

And they are here in Santa Cruz, CA Friday night. Very much looking forward to the show!

For another great mandolin player (also plays fiddle) check out some of the cds by Peter Ostroushko, fr. St. Paul,
MN. I recommend, among his many, "Coming Down fr. Red Lodge.? Also soon Peter...

Speaking of playing in 'hard keys' at the Classical Mandolin Convention, at a workshop by Peter
Ostroushko, he said he liked to play in a different key for a week at a time, to see what he comes up...

You might check out the new mandolin instruction book by Don Julin, Mandolin for Dummies. He covers lots of styles and that might meet some of your interests.

A wonderful convention! I heard such great music/great artists. John Goodin mentions many of them. The guitar duo was very special; and I really enjoyed Plectra fr. Sydney, Australia! One little...

And if you can get to Staten Is. there is Mandolin Brothers!

New Music Works, in Santa Cruz put on an afternoon of John Cage's music: a chamber group playing 4 pieces in a park, and then 6 or 7 "stations" of musicians playing music by Cage. My choral director...

An interesting write up! Scott, Andy Statman comes on a regular basis to the Mandolin Symposium, which will be celebrating it's 10th anniversary next June. Maybe you can
join us.
Nick Royal
Santa...

Don's Jam: I just ran off the tunes...lots of them! We'll be kept busy playing...those of us who make it
to the nightly jams!
Nick - Santa Cruz

I'd visit Floyd, VA which is the home of the great cd store, County Sales. They have music jams and concerts I believe,
and would give you some resources of places to visit.
Nick Royal
Santa Cruz,...

For years I played by ear, and taught myself to do it by playing along with recordings. So I am pretty good at that.
Around age 60 I decided to learn to sight read so I could play some classical...

Another mandolin maker to suggest is Bob Altman. I would imagine his instruments sound pretty good too.
Nick

With Robert Margora's help, it looks like I'll be getting the Schwaen mandolin duets fr. Trekel publishing, in Hamburg, Germany before long. Having heard 4 of them on Richard Kriehn's cd, I am...

I had never heard of the German composer, Kurt Schwaen, but on Richard Kriehn's very nice new cd of a variety of mandolin pieces are 4 duets (of 15 I think) by Kurt
Schwaen. I looked up on the...

I'd like to be in the drawing too.
Nick

I use a capo when I want to play and sing in the key of E. (I am then using D chords.) I know I should learn "E" better,
but somehow, the capo makes me enjoy that key more when I am singing songs...

I was sorry to hear of Earl Scruggs' passing. I heard years ago at an outdoor
music park in western Maryland; and of course listened to his banjo playing over the years. Although not a "mandolin...