Music News:
New One-Event Jam
Nick & I've been invited to host an evening jam on Wednesday, June 3rd at the Glendale Foothills Public Library between Union Hills and the 101 on 57th Ave. Free! Free! Free!The fun starts at 6:30 and ends as the place closes close to 8. Our Foothills jams (mentioned below) have grown to a nice group of around ten or so musicians and singers who are so dependable and quick, Nick and I probably jam with them two to four times a month. That often and you're bound to get comfortable with each other's tunes.
I Now Have My Own Jam... Again...And Again
Nicky and I have inherited another jam! Rick R. who hosted the Knights of Columbus Jam discussed below, couldn't reliably attend anymore and offered the stewardship of it to us. It draws better musicians than your average jam and the beer is only $1.50 a stein! Life is good!
I co-host a jam with blind Nicky Nicastro, classically trained fiddler and it is gaining steam. It's a jam described below, the Foothills Library jam has been passed from
David Bernstein to us because David already had a jam Friday mornings and it was a hassle getting to the Foothills on time.
I co-host a jam with blind Nicky Nicastro, classically trained fiddler and it is gaining steam. It's a jam described below, the Foothills Library jam has been passed from
David Bernstein to us because David already had a jam Friday mornings and it was a hassle getting to the Foothills on time.
The jam shrunk in attendance when David B. left, but before we had so many beginners sometimes you couldn't hear yourself over them. Now we have just a few beginners and they're outnumbered by folks who can play decent lead on almost every instrument there. The vocal harmonies have improved too. Nicky and J.F. now play dual fiddle leads and they get more awesome every jam.
Just to review, the jams are the first and third Fridays of every month at 1:15 to 3:15. Location: 57th Ave. North of Union Hills and South of the 101 and Utopia.
Formerly, only acoustic instruments were allowed, but this has been dropped until and unless someone can't control their volume even when advised of the fact. Nicky will now sometimes bring his Yamaha keyboard. If you thought he was good on fiddle, his piano playing is even better.
This isn't my first jam. At Encanto Park on 15th Ave. and south of Thomas I had the 2nd Tuesday jams for several years and so many good valley musicians used to come. About every jam I've regularly attended fizzles out over time and so did mine. Ah nostalgia, it's not like it used to be.
This isn't my first jam. At Encanto Park on 15th Ave. and south of Thomas I had the 2nd Tuesday jams for several years and so many good valley musicians used to come. About every jam I've regularly attended fizzles out over time and so did mine. Ah nostalgia, it's not like it used to be.
Eddie Detroit had a birthday...
bash at Rips on 16th St. a few blocks North of Thomas in Phoenix which isn't a fancy place, but that translates to $3 a beer instead of $5. Eddie has been a friend and musical collaborator in a couple of the bands I had in the 90's. His main expertise is percussion, but he has since added a mandolin to his talent and it sounds good!
Eddie can throw a party! Attendance was large to the point of crowding, but when the sheer numbers had me squeezed against several cuties, well you just have to go with it.
Music was as varied as rock, folk, originals, bluegrass and I sure don't know what, but my ears liked it.
While there I met Dillon from Australia. What a fun time ensued. He was 20's young and here on vacation from his mechanic job back home. His travel was largely music oriented. He was enthusiastic when I told him I was to play my banjo. Alas, by the time the audience was ready to switch from their music to my music, he had gone on his Australian way.
My few songs' contribution to the evening met as enthusiastic an applause as any banjo player could hope.
Hats off to Eddie.
Music was as varied as rock, folk, originals, bluegrass and I sure don't know what, but my ears liked it.
While there I met Dillon from Australia. What a fun time ensued. He was 20's young and here on vacation from his mechanic job back home. His travel was largely music oriented. He was enthusiastic when I told him I was to play my banjo. Alas, by the time the audience was ready to switch from their music to my music, he had gone on his Australian way.
My few songs' contribution to the evening met as enthusiastic an applause as any banjo player could hope.
Hats off to Eddie.
Nicky and I went to Pickin' in the Pines Flagstaff Bluegrass festival over the weekend of Sept. 12th -14th.
I'm compelled to say this is the most expensive festival I have ever attended. $65 for Saturday and $35 for Sunday. We went up Saturday and so failed to take note Friday's admission fee. In case any of you wonder if I won the lottery so I could afford to go, I didn't. What I did do is volunteer at the Arizona Bluegrass Association (of which I am a member) to man their booth and therefore got in free both days. Nicky, who couldn't have afforded admission either, got in because he was blind. Go figure!
Anyway, the bands and their music pretty well justified the king's ransom admission charge. I
didn't hear an off note the whole time I listened and the pickin' and singin' were top notch. Most noticed by me was the Baker Family who had a 13-year-old vocalist who blew my hair back. That girl is going places if I am any judge.
didn't hear an off note the whole time I listened and the pickin' and singin' were top notch. Most noticed by me was the Baker Family who had a 13-year-old vocalist who blew my hair back. That girl is going places if I am any judge.
As it says below, I love a good jam and that is just what Nicky and I got Saturday night. About 7:30 or so, we made a circuit of the campground looking for a good jam. Picking was sparce so we went back to our campsite just in time for Nicky to devour our camping neighbors leftover pork chop and potato salad. We Jammed a while with them and then headed up the hill once more into the forest campgrounds and this time hooked up with a fiddler and mandolin player Nick and I know from local valley jams. There were probably 8 or 10 musicians in the jam and about as many in the audience. None of the jammers were in a particular hurry to select the jam tunes and so for about an hour it fell to yours truly, Uncle Dave the banjo player. I can honestly say, that has never happened to me in a jam the some 50 odd years I've been playing banjo and I loved it! Nicky sawed his fiddle and sang and I picked, grinned and sang myself hoarse for that hour. I would have had to stop short were it not for an obliging guy in the crowd named Bo who was kind enough to lend me a swallow or 3 of his Maker's Mark whiskey. Somewhere in the jam I think I actually lost count of the swallows of whiskey. I did have a rather sore throat. To my surprise it only improved my speed and accuracy on the banjo (although it may have affected my objectivity and honest reporting).
Several of the fans in the audience were both very appreciative of the music and women of flawless beauty, an excellent combination in my book. They disappeared and then reappeared with lawn chairs. I guess the music must not have been too bad.
Eventually the Maker's Mark began to affect me and I sought a place to rest. I chose a picnic table very close behind me not noticing it was on uneven ground. When I sat down rather hard, the table acted as a see-saw and vaulted a camping lantern many feet into the sky. If not completely ruined, it would definitely need repair. Soon I was forgiven, back up and picking on a night that started about 9 and went until 1.
Sunday night Nicky and I went back up the hill looking for a repeat, but all the folks were gone.
Was up in Prescott June 21st for the Prescott Bluegrass festival held on the courthouse grounds on the corner of Whiskey Row and Gurley. This is the only bluegrass festival I know of that has top bluegrass bands and is completely free.
Besides free which is one of my favorite words in the English language, the other thing I like about this venue is that my style of jamming can force a banjo player to develop quite a thirst. Lucky for me, right across the street from the festival is The Prescott Brewing Company where I am often in the habit of stopping for one of their Petrified Porter dark beer which simultaneously relieves achy fingers while slaking the thirst.
While jamming was ok at the festival, a problem arose which I would like to address. There were more than one group of jammers that were exclusive. I can understand that a jam can get unwieldy if there are just too many musicians that all want to slaughter a lead break, but such was not the case. These jams had 6 to 10 musicians and could accommodate more, they were just snooty. One jam let me in, but didn't allow me to do any lead or choose any of the songs. To me that's worse than not letting somebody in a jam at all. Had I the authority these #$%& people would experience Dante's Inferno at the lowest level down with the lawyers.
Happily a couple jam groups didn't have their heads stuck in an orifice and were quite a pleasant place to spend about 5 hours making music.
The Prescott festival goes both Saturday and Sunday, but time and gas prices forced me to pick a day to pick a day.
I attended a new open mic at a venue in Glendale and it is worth mentioning.
At the North West corner of 51st avenue and Northern there is a small strip mall with a new coffee house about mid way down the line. It is run by a Vietnamese couple who are very salt-of-the-earth and make all feel welcome. The open mic starts at 6:30 Tuesday night and goes on for hours with performers doing 2 to 4 numbers each depending on how many musicians show.
Besides free which is one of my favorite words in the English language, the other thing I like about this venue is that my style of jamming can force a banjo player to develop quite a thirst. Lucky for me, right across the street from the festival is The Prescott Brewing Company where I am often in the habit of stopping for one of their Petrified Porter dark beer which simultaneously relieves achy fingers while slaking the thirst.
While jamming was ok at the festival, a problem arose which I would like to address. There were more than one group of jammers that were exclusive. I can understand that a jam can get unwieldy if there are just too many musicians that all want to slaughter a lead break, but such was not the case. These jams had 6 to 10 musicians and could accommodate more, they were just snooty. One jam let me in, but didn't allow me to do any lead or choose any of the songs. To me that's worse than not letting somebody in a jam at all. Had I the authority these #$%& people would experience Dante's Inferno at the lowest level down with the lawyers.
Happily a couple jam groups didn't have their heads stuck in an orifice and were quite a pleasant place to spend about 5 hours making music.
The Prescott festival goes both Saturday and Sunday, but time and gas prices forced me to pick a day to pick a day.
I attended a new open mic at a venue in Glendale and it is worth mentioning.
At the North West corner of 51st avenue and Northern there is a small strip mall with a new coffee house about mid way down the line. It is run by a Vietnamese couple who are very salt-of-the-earth and make all feel welcome. The open mic starts at 6:30 Tuesday night and goes on for hours with performers doing 2 to 4 numbers each depending on how many musicians show.
There is an excellent bluegrass jam the 2nd Friday of every month in Glendale at the Knights of Columbus Hall 8066 N. 49th Ave just north of Northern and East of 51st Ave. Some very skilled musicians attend and this is not a beginner jam. There is a large audience of folks eating and the right wrong musician can put you off your feed. The establishment has a fish fry as just one of many tempting entrees to enjoy. I have never shied away from a good brew and they serve cold mugs of draft for only $1.50. Really loosens up the old pickin' fingers.
David Bernstein is the host of a pair of jams I think you should know about:
There are TWO JAMS at the Pyle Center, SW corner of Southern and Rural:
EVERY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON 1:00-3:30PM
EVERY FRIDAY MORNING 9:00-11:30AM
Please join the fun at both jams! Play bluegrass, country, folk, gospel, and more! All levels of players welcome. Spectators and singers are welcome too.
This is an excellent jam for newbies or the self conscious. If you can't ease up and enjoy this jam I'd start limiting my coffee to decaf.
This is an excellent jam for newbies or the self conscious. If you can't ease up and enjoy this jam I'd start limiting my coffee to decaf.
Questions? I probably don't know, but David N Bernstein does. They're his jams.
David Bernstein (fellow banjo player) is swiftly becoming one of my best friends as he is a truly nice person who makes all musicians and guests feel welcome at his jams. Even those who are new to jamming and might have been rejected at some of the other valley jams will find that the occasional music gaff is unnoticed. And the band plays on.
Also co hosted by David and a banjo player called Debra. Nicky and I now lead this jam and it ain't spam!
There is a jam at the public library just South of the 101 freeway and East of 59th Avenue off Utopia: The Foothills Branch Library 19055 N. 57th Ave. Glendale is a brand new jam on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month starting at 1:15 PM and lasting two hours (the library doesn't open until 1:00).
The first jam was well attended with about 20+ participants and interested spectators stopping by regularly. The primary focus of the jam was bluegrass and as such attracted 6 banjo players, 2 stand-up basses a couple fiddles, mandolins, guitars and harmonicas. The music format is open. We'll try anything.
For a first jam, the jamming and music were excellent! Nobody chose a jambuster (a song so hard to learn nobody plays). And every song ended unanimously where it should. This jam is good enough that it may expand to every Friday.
For a more complete list of the valley's bluegrass jams contact the Arizona Bluegrass Association which you'll find by a web search, or if you wait, as I get permissions a link will be posted here to that too.
A few weekends ago I met with Blind Nicky Nicastro who was in my first Valley of the Sun band "The Southwest Newgrass Band" back in the late '80's and '90's. As we jammed it was almost as if we had never been apart, not as if apart 15 or more years. He now lives in Buckeye Az. but despite the geography we are discussing reuniting as a musical presence. It would be better with more musicians, so we're looking for musician/vocalists on guitar, bass etc. Let me know at davelawrence5555@gmail.com. Author's note: Nicky moved back to Phoenix and now lives slightly on the west side of central Phoenix.
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