Yeah, Old-Time can take a new look, but the trick is to keep track of the old while doing something new with it. I really like how the Crooked Jades do that. Lots of youtubes of them but I think this...
Type: Posts; User: Jody Kruskal
Yeah, Old-Time can take a new look, but the trick is to keep track of the old while doing something new with it. I really like how the Crooked Jades do that. Lots of youtubes of them but I think this...
Hi David,
You should go. Not only will dancing make you a better mandolin player, it's fun!
My band Grand Picnic https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/grandpicnic is playing in NYC again this May 11 at...
Hey Jim,
Yes, I'm still playing dances right and left.
I hope your gig went well. Did they all sit and listen silently? That would not be too authentic now would it?
Last Sunday I had a St....
Hi There Jim, Jeff and all.
A while back we were having an interesting conversation about contra dance tune medleys. I just came across this in depth discussion including many well known musicians...
Congratulations on the project, but Forum Guidelines request all personal items for sale be place in the Classifieds Section of the website.
Hey Jim,
I remember that year at Pinewoods too. Sandy and her wild crew blew me away with their fun and energy. Made me want to start playing. An inspiring summer.
I don’t know what other work the Wild Asparagus folks do but they are certainly professionals and earn fees well above the norm.
* They bring their own sound system and know how to use it so they...
There may be others, but the only band I know of is Wild Asparagus
http://www.wildasparagus.com/about.html
Look at their schedule and you will see how often they play.
So Jim, what happened with your band? Did you try the Shh, Diamonds and Pedal tricks I was telling you about on June 26? Perhaps you are all taking a break for these hot summer nights.
The idea of a "slip waltz" came to me long after I wrote the tune and it is not generic as far as I know because I've never heard of another tune like La Pente Glissant. It's a 3/4 waltz for dancing...
I love slip jigs but I've never played one at a contra dance. They are just wrong for that kind of dancing. I wrote a very nice slip waltz though. The dancers don't seem to mind changing right to...
Hi Jim,
You guys should work on that because we change dynamics all the time and sometimes by design. The dancers love it. As you say, you build and get to that overdrive place then where do you...
Hi Jim,
So you are the oddball in the group, just like me. The player who glues all the elements together and sometimes takes it over the top. At least that is sort of how I think of it. In moving...
Paul, Jeff, Jim and the rest,
I think you guys have your heads in the right place and would be happy to play any time with you based on your words alone. I absolutely agree that solid rhythm...
Hi Jeff,
I think I know what you mean. Dance musicians sometimes wonder if the dancers even hear what they are up to, but I think they do. They may not be able to articulate their experience of...
This thread has gone dormant. Here is a question that might perk you up...
At a contra dance, you probably play a few waltzes. What are your favorites? We play many and quite a few originals, but...
Yeah, Possum is a good old tune. I've been playing this Kentucky (?) version of "Cluck old Hen" from fiddler Pug Allen. Very different from the common minor version. Beverly Smith & Carl Jones, Glow
Yes, Paul. Right you are. I would probably not pick this tune to go with Petronella at a dance for the very reason you mention, still it is a good fit structurally. We often play Green Mountain...
Excellent!
OK, I see that I need an example to show what I'm talking about. Let's say that the dance has a full petronella in the A1. The dancers would balance and turn, balance and turn, balance and turn,...
Hi Paul, I think you are right for the most part. Especially the part at the end about paying attention to the dancers.
I also agree about not getting too worked up about finding the perfect...
Hi Jim,
Our approach to picking tunes and working with the caller has been developed over 25 years of playing for dances. It's not the only way to go. Just having good communication with the...
Contra Categories
Thanks Paul for your great and inclusive description of dance tune meters and rhythms. Well said. So when do you play what?
When I play for a dance the caller often asks for...
Hi Jim,
Yes, speed is relative. I agree that 120 is a normal "fast tempo" and though my bands generally play reels there it gets wearing for us and the dancers and so we like to vary things. 110...