RAFFLES
1st Prize
Gold Tone PS 250 Plectrum banjo
co-sponsored by Paul Blumentritt of the Tucson
Folk Shop and Gold Tone Banjos
!!
For more info and pictures of
the PS 250, go to this link on the Goldtone website
http://www.goldtone.com/products/details/w/instrument/66/PS-250-Plectrum-Special
This banjo will have a fresh
setup by Vinnie Mondello, Banjohaven
It will be played on stage in
a performance by Rob Wright so that all may hear what will be won.
2nd Prize
2 Night Stay at the Hilton Conquistador
in Tucson
These days cannot be used as
show days .....sorry!
3rd Prize
One free banjo lesson
You can chose either (Alphabetically)
Steve
Caddick or Dave Frey!
Sure to improve your playing
skills!
And now..........
AZ 2010 HEADLINER(S)
It is our style, to showcase all of the wonderful
talent individually, and as a whole
So in No particular Order.......................
Johnny Baier
JOHNNY BAIER - Biography, Spring 2007
Since he began his career as a professional
banjo player in 1971 (just two weeks after he picked up the instrument),
Johnny Baier has been developing an admirable reputation as one of the
worlds most ardent performers on, and promoters of Americas only native
musical instrument - the banjo. From the beginning, playing banjo
for the sing along crowd at the Shakey's Pizza Parlor in Oshkosh, Wisconsin,
Baier maintained a goal of keeping his performances both musical and entertaining.
The varied musical influences he absorbed as a youngster (from jazz to
polkas to classics), coupled with inspiration, guidance and instruction
from many great banjo artists of the past, have resulted in a contemporary
banjo artist with a unique sound and style.
A Johnny Baier performance always demonstrates
his eagerness to attempt to add new textures and colors to the banjos perceived
repertoire and sound. Ragtime, Jazz, Bluegrass, Folk, Classics, Pop,
and, of course, traditional banjo favorites are all given Baier’s unique
touch. A certain highlight of his career came in 1983 when, after
a participating in a banjo competition held in Ontario, Canada that featured
some of the finest banjoists in North America, Baier was named the North
American Banjo Champion. Following this success, he was asked to
represent a division of the Sara Lee Corporation as a musical goodwill
ambassador. In this capacity, he had the opportunity to travel throughout
the United States performing at trade shows, fairs, parades and special
events.
After three years of touring (accumulating
over 150,000 land and air miles per year), Baier decided to “settle down”
in Orlando, Florida where, in 1988, he began an incredible run at the world-famous
Rosie O’Grady’s in Church Street Station. In the years that followed,
Johnny, combining masterful musicianship with crowd pleasing entertainment
skills, performed over 15,000 solo shows.
In 2000, Baier become the Entertainment
Director and featured performer at Rock Crusher Canyon - an entertainment
attraction located on Florida's Gulf Coast. In this position, he
produced hundreds of shows including Willie Nelson, Glen Campbell, Three
Dog Night, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and many more. In addition
to his own headline performances at RCC, Johnny opened shows for legendary
show business notables such as The Kingston Trio, Pat Boone, Mickey Rooney
and Roy Clark.
Always ready to take his act “on the
road”, Baier has been a headline performer in the showrooms aboard the
luxury cruise ships of the Crystal, Radisson, Princess and Holland America
lines. His ease with an audience also makes him a favorite at community
and corporate events as well as musical festivals and concert venues throughout
the world.
On the traditional jazz scene, in addition
to leading his own popular "All Star" Dixieland jazz band, Johnny, playing
both banjo and guitar, appears in clubs, festivals, concerts and on recordings
with many notable classic jazz groups including “Bill Allred’s Classic
Jazz Band”, “Allan Vache and the New Delta Steamers”, “Rosie O’Grady’s
Goodtime Jazz Band”, “The Bob Crosby Bob Cats”, and “The Walt Disney World
Rhythm Rascals”.
Another recent highlight in Johnny's
career came with his partnership with fellow banjo master Buddy Wachter.
Their destined to be historic recording, entitled Side By Side, received
rave reviews from both critics and banjo enthusiasts from around the world,
being hailed as "quite possibly the best banjo recording ever!" The
duo is currently working on a follow-up CD which will be recorded in Spring
of this year.
In addition to performing, Baier is a
serious journalist and banjo historian as well. He is internationally
known as the editor of All Frets magazine - the official publication of
the Fretted Instrument Guild of America - an international nonprofit musical
organization. In addition to existing artist endorsement relationships
in place with both RICHELIEU BANJOS and GHS STRINGS, Johnny has recently
contracted with MEL BAY PUBLICATIONS to write, publish and distribute two
instructional publications for the tenor banjo to a world-wide market.
As a further testimonial to his commitment
to the music and heritage of the banjo, in 2004 Baier was offered (and
accepted) the position of Executive Director of the National Four-String
Banjo Hall of Fame Museum located in historic Guthrie, Oklahoma.
The Museum is home to a massive collection of ornately decorated Jazz Age
banjos - the largest collection on public display anywhere in the world.
The highest compliment a musical artist
can hope to receive usually comes from fellow musicians. When banjo
players gather, they often refer to Johnny Baier as “the best”. While
such high praise is certainly a matter of personal opinion, it is clear
that his love for the banjo and the music it is capable of creating has
allowed Johnny Baier to evolve into exactly what he'd hoped to become...THE
BANJO MAN.
ROB WRIGHT
http://robwrightbanjo.com/
I have played the banjo since I was ten years
old, which makes it my first musical instrument and love. Although
I was fortunate enough to make a living traveling around the country for
several years in my youth, most of my time was spent playing guitar and
singing.
Now I spend my days as a partner in an independent
financial advisory company, Schannep Investment Advisors. But my
nights and weekends are often devoted to playing and singing with the banjo!
I'm proud to be a member of a world class traditional jazz band, The
Original Wildcat Jass Band out of the University of Arizona.
Indeed, it is my relationship with this group of talented players that
has inspired me to bring my banjo skills back up to an elite professional
level.
Visit the band's webpage by clicking the image
below
In Tucson, a committed and energized group
of talented jazz stylists is helping to spread the "gospel of traditional
jazz" in southern Arizona. The Original Wildcat Jass Band offers traditional
New Orleans and Chicago jazz, performed in a spirit and style that is true
to its musical roots and wildly popular with audiences around the Old Pueblo.
An outgrowth of the renowned University of Arizona School of Music and
Dance, The Original Wildcat Jass Band offers its highly entertaining, uniquely
toe-tapping music to Arizona and the world.
Tim Weidenkeller
Debbie Daly,
Mark Robertson-Tessi, Tim Weed, Porangui, Rob Paulus
Photo by
Todd
Pickering
Debbie Daly
(vocals, guitar, percussion) * www.DebbieDaly.com
Mark Robertson-Tessi
(mandolin,vocals) * PickPluckMusic.com/mrt
Rob Paulus
(bass, violin) * www.RobPaulus.com
Porangui
(percussion) * www.porangui.com
Will Clipman
(percussion) * www.WillClipman.com
Tim Weed is an acoustic multi-instrumentalist,
classical banjo virtuoso, and singer-songwriter whose music traverses genres
and defies categorization. His collection of original classical works
for the 5-string banjo, Milagros, is regularly featured on National Public
Radio and has been highly praised. He has been invited to perform
this music at the Arizona Chamber Music Festival and for the Dalai Lama.
Also known by his original name, Tim Wiedenkeller,
Tim began as a bluegrass prodigy on banjo in Southern California.
He started playing at age 16, and two years later was travelling with the
high-powered young bluegrass band Last Chance. During its few years
of existence, Last Chance helped produce some of today's most influential
bluegrass musicians, including Stuart Duncan, Gene Libbea, and Alison Brown
- bandmates who all became Grammy Award winners.
During the 80's Tim turned his interest away
from the banjo, toward guitar, voice, and studio recording. He spent 15
years performing, writing, producing, and recording in a wide variety of
musical styles with the best musicians and recording studios in Los Angeles.
He also travelled extensively during this time, and was profoundly influenced
by the musical cultures he was exposed to in the Orient, Southeast Asia,
and the South Pacific.
He rediscovered the banjo in the 90's and began
playing, composing, and recording his own virtuosic classical music. This
work has been praised for "redefining the banjo" with a new level of sophistication,
complexity and beauty, and revealing its similarities to instruments from
around the world.
In 2008 Tim began recording with Dave Matthews
Band for a movie soundtrack and CD. He worked with award-winning producer,
composer, and musician Steve Wood on this project - Wood has produced music
with Sting, George Harrison, Stevie Wonder, Kenny Loggins, and Crosby-Nash.
He now lives part-time in both northern California
and southern Arizona, working as a concert musician, recording artist and
sideman. He's a yogi, vegan, naturalist, environmentalist, surfer, and
father of two children.
Live audiences know Tim as an exciting, captivating
performer who's full of surprises. His concerts showcase his cutting-edge
acoustic music, journeying through a boundless mix of classical banjo,
bluegrass, jazz, rock and traditional music, and international music.
His concerts always include improvisation and dazzling interplay between
band members, epitomizing what great live music is all about.
http://www.timweed.com/
Let's all give a warm U.S.A. welcome to..........
TOM STUIP
photo by Raymond van Houten
Tom Stuip found a tenor banjo in
his grandfather’s closet in Rotterdam, when he was 11 years old, and that’s
when his parents’ dreams of him becoming a brain surgeon evaporated quickly.
During prohibition, his grandfather had swapped a bottle of Jenever (Dutch
gin) for the banjo with an American sailor, in the port of Rotterdam where
he worked. A few years later Tom switched to plectrum tuning.
Tom is the man who took the banjo
to unprecedented heights: he recently played a short version of "Duelin'
Banjos" in the bathroom of a 747, halfway between Amsterdam and New York,
thinking this would entitle him to membership of the "mile-high-club".
You won't find a man with a larger collection of G-strings outside of Vegas.
He has been a promising and upcoming artist for many years now… and still
is. He once had dreams of gold, glory and groupies… and still does. Many
of you may remember Eddie Peabody's famous last words: "Tom Stuip, who
the hell is he?"
In spite of all this, Tom has managed
to perform at jazz festivals on six continents, as well as record dozens
of albums with various jazz combos, like the Aces of Syncopation and the
Jazz-O-Matic Four. His feature CD “The Great Banjo Conspiracy”, which includes
many tracks from his Stomp-Off LP “Banjophobia”, has been well received
by banjo players everywhere.
His main banjo heroes have been,
in chronological order: Eddie Smith, the Banjo Kings, Eddie Peabody, Dave
Marty, Perry Bechtel, Elmer Snowden, Ikey Robinson and Buddy Wachter. After
the Banjo Blast, this list will hopefully double.
Don Van Palta, "The Flying Dutchman"
inducted in the Guthrie, OK "Banjo Hall of Fame" as
performer and teacher
Check out Don's excellent webpage here !!!!
http://www.plectrumbanjolessons.com/index.html
Kurt Abell
Kurt has been involved with music since he
was a very young child. It all started with a talent contest when he lip-synced
the words to the hip beach tune, "Wipe Out," while holding a cardboard
cutout of a guitar. The crowd went wild, and a star was born. While in
middle school he began to play the bassoon, and went onto Fresno University
under a music scholarship. As a young adult, seeing who would become one
of his banjo idols, Dave Marty, playing in San Francisco, he picked up
the banjo.
Music has woven its thread into a tapestry
upon Kurt's hands. His pedigree includes playing at the Red Garter Saloon
in San Francisco in the early 70's, television and movie appearances, a
10 year relationship with the Washboard Wizardz, Headlining Banjo Shows
from coast to coast, performing as a jazz musician in Europe and Asia,
and the banjoist for the Modesto Symphony during their Holiday Pops series
in 2007. He has over a dozen albums still in print, as well as a newly
released solo CD, Solo Expedition, this year. In addition, his newly formed
ensemble, Kurt Abell and his Rhythm Knickers released their first CD, Out
of Bounds, in March, 2009.
He is currently touring with the Cats 'n Jammers
Jazz Band, Kurt Abell and his Rhythm Knickers, and continues to wow audiences
as Headliner at various Banjo Shows nationwide. He also in under contract
to write charts for a 14 piece swing band and volunteers his time to local
musicians in an effort to support the arts. His technique of teaching banjo
artistry is close to his heart, but performing is his passion.
When you hear him caress the strings, the
melody transcends to spectacular heights.
The "Rhythm Knickers"
Just elected to the American Banjo Hall of Fame....
Dave Marty!
Whether entertaining on luxury cruise liners
or appearing before convention audiences, California banjoman extraordinaire
Dave Marty's nickname is "Mr. Smooth."
Music captured the young Marty’s imagination
almost from the start. From the age of 12, he had already begun teaching
himself ukulele before eventually asking his father for something a little
bigger. Marty actually had a guitar in mind, but for his 16th birthday,
his dad surprised him with – of all things—a banjo.
He had trouble at first adjusting to the banjo’s
long neck, and put the instrument aside for the next three years until
he happened to hear a banjo player and a piano player in a local pizza
parlor. “After hearing a couple of tunes, I decided I was as good as or
better than the banjo player, and he was making money doing that,” said
Marty. “Then and there I knew what I wanted to do with my life.”
Before long, Marty had resurrected the banjo,
joined the musician’s union and got his first professional job – also in
a pizza parlor. He’s been playing ever since: 56 years in all.
Marty’s career began in beer halls and restaurants,
but he soon branched out to night clubs in San Francisco, Chicago, New
Orleans and New York City, not to mention Florence, Italy and the New York
World’s Fair.
Together with David Sturdevant on guitar and
Abe van der Meulen on side banjo, Marty formed the San Francisco Medicine
Ball Band in 1970, recording an LP “On a Slow Boat to China” in 1976. Marty
went on to record several other albums and spent 17 years as a featured
performer on major cruise lines.
Marty revels in a wide variety of musical forms,
from Classical to Dixieland and Traditional Jazz along with music from
the big band era. But the uniqueness of the banjo lays the strongest
claim to his heart. “Musically, the banjo tugs at the American heart because
of the sound derived from the instrument; it is unlike any other American
musical instrument and can be a happy one,” said Marty. “Culturally, the
banjo is a big part of very early American popular music and Dixieland
jazz and country & western music. Furthermore, music played on the
banjo stirs up many memories, particularly for senior citizens.”
*****************************
Some major accomplishments during Dave's
career have been:
«
Band leader and lead banjoist for the Red Garter nightclub chain nationally
and in Europe for thirteen years (1963 to 1976).
«
Along with David Sturdevant on guitar and Abe van der Meulen on side banjo,
the three of us became the San Francisco Medicine Ball Band in 1970 and
recorded our first LP, On a Slow Boat to China in 1976.
«
Performed at Earthquake McGoon’s in San Francisco with Turk Murphy and
his band as featured solo intermission banjoist, sitting-in with his band
six nights a week for a decade (1970 to 1980);
«
Featured Star Attraction aboard cruise ships world-wide for 17 years; (1980
to 1997);
«
Toured with the late, great Morey Amsterdam as his opening act;
Ray Templin
From Chicago’s jazz clubs to “Ray Templin’s Bar” on
NBC’s Matlock, Ray Templin’s career has covered just about all aspects
of the entertainment industry. He has gained acclaim as a propulsive, swinging
stride pianist and vocalist. Having performed in a variety of venues, from
pizza parlors, dinner theaters and cabarets to the country’s largest jazz
festivals, Ray has proven to be quite a versatile entertainer. His acting
and voice-over talent has also led him to the world of television and commercials.
As well as putting in 26 years at Disneyland as an entertainment fixture,
he is also a founder of several popular jazz bands. Recently relocated
to Tucson, Arizona, Ray currently plays piano and percussion with The
Original Wildcat Jass Band
Jack Convery
Jack Convery has performed with his banjo from
the east coast to the west coast and all points in between. He has been
the musical director of the S.F. 49ers, and has work with such stars as
Bing Crosby, Perry Como, Ella Fitzgerald, Willie Nelson and more. His recent
Cd featured music the Beatles made popular. His recent CD,
"Jack Convery and Friends" features Dave Marty and the Medicine Ball
Band. He is currently working with young banjo players and has developed
some outstanding ones, including Paul Doerner and Jeff Lui. He has also
started the annual Banjo Snow Train to Reno, 3 days of banjo jamming and
workshops on the 'Snow Train to Reno'.
For Jack Convery's CD of 'Beatles on the Banjo',
'Carpenters on the Banjo' and 'The San Francisco Medicine Ball' go here:
http://cdbaby.com/found?allsearch=jack+convery&allsearchsubmit=Search
For more information on the 2010 Banjo Snow
Train to Reno sign our mailist here:
http://www.banjojazz.com/
Dave Frey
See more on Dave here
http://www.ultimatebanjo.com/index.html
Banjoist and author Dave Frey has been playing
plectrum banjo for over 30 years. During that time, he professionally recorded
over 300 tunes with nine different bands making him one of the more prolific
banjoists performing today. Dave is also a banjo instructor at the International
Banjo College in Guthrie, Oklahoma.
Dave is experienced in playing both the banjo
band and Dixieland/traditional jazz styles of the instrument and is listed
in K.O. Eckland's book Jazz West 2, a history of traditional jazz performers
in the western United States. Dave is also the banjoist for the San Francisco
Starlight Orchestra (a 1920's style hot dance orchestra that recently ranked
fifth in the world in a Mississippi Rag newspaper's readers poll, as well
as numerous other jazz and banjo bands, including the Southtown Strummers,
The Three Plectrums, the Fourth Street Five Jazz Band and Eldorado Syncopators
Jazz Band.
Steve Caddick
Click to go to Steve's Webpage
Biography:
Steve Caddick
Tenor Banjo Performer and Teacher
Instrumentation:
1924 Vega Professional Tenor Banjo
1986 Paul Simpson Custom 20 Fret Whyte Laydie
Tenor Banjo
Biography:
I started playing the tenor banjo at age 9.
My dad taught me the basics. I like to say I learned the banjo at my fathers’
knee and other low joints!
I seriously studied tenor banjo while in college
in Boston from 1969-1972.
During that time, I joined the Rev. Bob Ryder,
who was starting a banjo band in the fall of 1969 called “The Parsons Plunkers”.
I played the lead tenor banjo for 28 years with him. When Bob passed away
in 1998, I reformed the band as the "Red Suspenders" and have been the
leader of that group ever since.
During most of this time period, I worked in
the clubs with my Dad, Wild Bill Caddick. We had a steady gig for almost
15 years at the Ground Round Restaurants in Rhode Island. Those were fun
times for us and I really got to know my father and his incredible musicianship.
Dad and I enjoyed performing at many banjofests in New England during the
1980’s and 90’s, until he passed in 1997. I met Eddy Kebabjian at one of
these banjofests and a great friendship developed. We recorded two CD’s
together.
In 2005 I formed a group called “Steve Caddick
and Avalon” with Rene Marion and Paul Poirier. Eddy Kebabjian provides
us with arrangements for 2 banjos and tenor guitar. I love performing with
these guys. We have similar ideas on how to entertain and we work at it
to make it fun for our audiences. It is fun to throw quips back and forth
with them while performing.
I had the pleasure of Co-hosting the Spring
Fling with Paul from 2003-2008. We also hosted the FIGA Convention in Providence,
RI in 2005.
When John Mumford started his website "Jazzbanjo.com"
he needed a tenor player to provide note for note arrangements and sound
files. I was very pleased that he chose me for that role. With the exposure
I have had through his website and being a member of Noel Induni’s “4 String
Banjo List”, a yahoo group online, they have helped me to become recognized
in the 4-string banjo world. With that I have had several opportunities
to be a Headliner or a featured banjoist at Banjofests around the country.
I am enjoying that very much!
This year I have started to expand on my teaching
by adding Live online lessons via webcam. I have been teaching for over
30 years and playing for 50. Teaching online allows me to have contact
with people all over the country who would like to learn my approach, technique
and philosophy of playing the tenor banjo.
I am looking forward to seeing
you at the Arizona Banjo Blast.
LINDA LEHMANN
Linda Lehmann has a passion for the banjo.
Starting on the instrument as a child, Linda’s
first professional banjo gig was took place at age l6. For the 12
years that followed, she worked at the Village Inn Pizza Parlor in Grand
Rapids, Michigan, honing her skills as a musician while gaining an enjoyment
of and appreciation for performing and entertaining.
After a several year hiatus to become a wife
and mother, Linda resumed her interest in all things banjo and is now enjoying
a new phase in her musical life. After becoming involved with FIGA
(the Fretted Instrument Guild of America) and meeting and learning from
many new banjo friends and mentors, she began playing with jazz groups
such as the Doc’s of Dixieland and River Rogues Jazz Band. Always
looking for ways to grow both musically and personally, her recent appearances
with her good friend, Margie Baumann, performing as Sweet & Simple
is a delight for Linda as well as her audiences.
MARGIE BAUMANN
Margie is from New Jersey and loves to sing and play
banjo anywhere and anytime she can.
She teamed up with Linda Lehmann from Michigan and
together they made a CD
called Sweet & Simple. Margie also plays
with Jack Frassa and Frank Costa when
they travel to banjo events calling themselves the
Jersey Jammers. The three of them
are part of a bigger band called Justa Buncha Banjos.
John Mumford
Like most folks it was the sound of the instrument
that lead John to take up the banjo. It was the early 1960's and
the Kingston Trio were on top of the charts. This led to the purchase
of an open back banjo and Pete Seeger's instruction book"How To Play The
5 String Banjo." Shortly thereafter, a couple of high
school classmates asked John to play in a "Rock" band and the banjo was
put aside for an electric guitar.
It was three years later with the band breaking
up and John moving to Colorado to attend college that he decided to resume
playing the five string banjo. He studied under Dick Weissman from
the group "The Journeyman". A few years later he ended up at "Your
Father's Mustache" bar playing on stage with the banjo band and that
lead to a new four string banjo and studying plectrum banjo with "Buck
Kelly."
For the next six years John performed at various
pizza parlors, restaurants, ski resorts and other establishments around
town and as a soloist and a member of "The Mustache Band" which was a spin
off of the old "Your Father's Mustache Banjo Band."
After a 10 year break John resumed playing
banjo again in 1989 and has been performing around the Denver Metro area
at different venues since.
In 1997 John decided to further his musical
knowledge by attending the University of Colorado - Denver. In 2002
he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Music with an emphasis in music
performance using the plectrum banjo. His performances has
taken him to jazz festivals as well as performing in several stage productions
including "Spoon River" and "Shanendoah."John also was a member of the
cast for the Colorado Shakespeare Festival's play "Troilus and Cressida."
The play was converted from the "Trojan Wars" to the "Civil War" and called
for a banjo player on performing on stage throughout the story line.
Go visit John's great Banjo
website at
www.jazzbanjo.com
FRONT RANGE BANJOS
The Front Range Banjos began as a jam session one evening
at the “Front Range Inn” located in Lakewood, Colorado. The sessions are
by invitation only and they have grown to be one of the most popular musical
events in the area. Traveling to Tucson are the following musicians:
Rory Thomas has been playing the 4-string Plectrum
Banjo for over 45 years. He is currently the banjo player for The Queen
City Jazz Band a group that specializes in Traditional Jazz, New
Orleans Jazz and vintage Gospel. Rory can also be found playing with
other jazz groups around the state as well as occasionally substituting
with groups such as the Black Swan Classic Jazz Band from Portland, Oregon.
Over the years he has performed at numerous jazz and ragtime festivals
as well as the “World Expo” in Osaka, Japan
Dave Marshall grew up in the San Francisco bay
area and in the early sixties, his father Lee Marshall, would play with
a small banjo group in the basement of a music store. This group was the
beginning of the Peninsula Banjo Band led by Charlie Tagawa. Dave played
in the Peninsula Banjo Band from age 11 into his 20’s. His first
job was at the age of 13 playing banjo at Shakey's Pizza Parlor. Dave now
lives in Golden Colorado and is in demand for his banjo virtuosity with
several jazz groups in area as well as his own group “The Blu Jazz Band.”
John Mumford began playing the 5-string banjo
in high school and discovered the plectrum banjo after visiting the “Your
Father’s Mustache” club in Denver. He is the publisher of “Jazz Banjo Magazine”
and “Jazz Banjo Radio” In addition to playing with several groups in Denver
he has also performed in musicals and festivals around the country.
Ray Bubick is the founder of the Mile High Banjo
Society. He started accordion lessons at the age of six, but developed
his love for the banjo in graduate school and has played it ever since.
Al Hays has been a musician for 65 years. What
else is there to say, He can play just about any song. His tuba has been
the integral part of a lot of jazz bands over the years.
The "East Bay"Banjo Club
The East Bay Banjo Club was founded in 1963
as a nonprofit organization and dedicated to the spirit of playing "Happy"
banjo music. Currently there are about 40 very enthusiastic members who
meet every Tuesday night from 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM at the Round Table Pizza
Parlor at 1938 Oak Park Blvd. in Pleasant Hill, California.
In the past, the Club had a famous float, "The
River Queen" which we used in parades, and various community functions.
The float was retired in 1997. We now play at many different civic events,
private parties, and club functions, mainly in Contra Costa County and
occasionally a neighboring county or two. Annually we play at the Palo
Alto Banjo Jubilee and the Sacramento Banjo-Rama, where we are featured
players along with some of the best banjo bands in the entire USA.
The money we earn from our "playouts" is donated
to various charities - mainly those involved with handicapped children,
and a few senior citizen organizations.
The Club always welcomes new members from outright
beginners to seasoned professionals The range of banjo playing experience
within the club is usually from several months to as much as 30 years.
So, if you love banjos, happy music and fun, please stop by, take a look,
and listen. We even have banjos to loan out to total beginners so it won't
cost you a penny to find out if you are interested.
Contact Information:
http://www.eastbaybanjo.org/
Jim Blankenship at (925) 706-0880
Dr Jeff Grosser
Short Bio of JEFFREY WILLIAM GROSSER
Born and raised in New York City, Jeff was
a professional accordionist who had already performed at Carnegie Hall
when he started playing plectrum banjo in 1968. He was leader of
the Rush Street Band for 13 years and was a regular banjoist at the famed
Red Onion in Manhattan. He played at other metropolitan New York
area clubs including the Banjo Inn, Chester's, the Golden Banjo, The Bourbon
Barrel, Calamity Jane's, and with many other groups including The New Orleans
Nighthawks, and The Smith Street Society, and was the regular partner with
the late great stride pianist George Holmes who grew up, literally, on
the piano bench next to Fat's Waller. He worked with notables Ed Sullivan,
Jerry Lewis, and Sammy Davis Jr. in the banjo busy 70's. He now leads
The Ragtime Razcals of New England and the Razcals Jazz Band. He
has worked with many other New England groups including the State Street
Traditional Band, the Clam Flat Five, the Classic Jazz Band, The Bath Municipal
Swing Band, and the Ambassadors. He is the regular banjoist with
the very well respected Royal River Philharmonic Jazz Band. He performs
throughout the northeast and the Phoenix area. He has completed projects
with the Phoenix Symphony, Public and Commercial Television and Radio,
and the Portland Conservatory of Music, The Deertrees Theater, and the
Rockland Opera House, and his concerts have appeared on many TV specials
in the New England area. He attends as many jazz and banjo conventions
as his schedule will allow. Besides his banjo work, he continues
to perform with his accordion, piano and guitar as well as maintaining
a Dental Practice in Wiscasset Maine where he lives.
jeffgrosser@gmail.com
ROGER HALE
Roger Hale has been charming audiences for
years with his unique style of banjo picking and singing. His performances
include solo work as well as a variety of duos, trios and larger groups.
He and his groups have been featured performers
at all of the Guthrie Jazz Banjo Festivals except the first one.
Featured performers at Eureka Springs Banjo
Festival
Has played as far away as Calgary Alberta
and Banff Canada
Has played St Thomas cruise ships
Has performed with such notables as Eddie
Peabody, Smokey Montgomery and Buck Trent
Has performed with many local Tulsa favorites
such as Tommy Crook and Shelby Eicher
Opened for Pete Fountain at the Brady
Green County Trio, blending various musical
styles like Dixieland, Blues and Jazz into a refreshing new sound that
is unique to this group.
Roger and his wife Carolyn call Tulsa home,
where Roger is a regular on "The Ole Time Radio Ranch" a webcast talk show
production.
We are pleased to announce
The "NEW ORLEANS KREWE"
Pics soon to follow!
The New Orleans Krewe is a few banjo players that live
in or have played in the Crescent City. Because we hardly ever get
to play gigs together we, along with a couple of other musicians, are excited
about attending the Arizona Banjo Blast 2010 and looking forward to playing
a set of some New Orleans Jazz banjo.
Barry Foulon
Banjoist born and still residing in New Orleans.
Started as a waiter/bartender at Your Father’s Mustache….then was ‘demoted’
to side banjo player and eventually the bandleader in the New Orleans and
New York nightclubs. Barry worked the Red Garter on Bourbon Street
and was bandleader at the Red Garter in Wildwood, New Jersey for many seasons.
Barry worked a few years at Houlihan’s on Bourbon St.
along with the wonderful vocalist Banu Gibson; started playing some Trad
Jazz with Scotty Hill’s French Market
Jazz Band; and entertained many season’s at Captain
Tony’s Saloon in Key West with the amazing washboard player/vocalist Joe
Terra.
Barry now appears at world-famous Fritzel’s European
Jazz Pub on Bourbon Street a few nights a week, and plays at the renowned
Arnauds Restaurant and Jazz Bistro a few nights a week.
Mike Gentry
Originally from Denver, Colorado, Mike now resides
in Arkansas in, as he puts it, “a little log cabin down in Clear Creek
Holler in the heart of Ozarks” with his lovely wife “Toots,” parrot “Gilbert,”
and black lab “Murphy.”
Mike played the TUBA all through grade-school, high-school,
and college, and began his professional musical career playing tuba with
the US Navy bands, and played all over the world. After getting out of
the Navy, he went back to Denver and started working for an international
nightclub chain called “Your Father’s Mustache,” where he learned to play
the banjo. Mike played in the Denver “Mustache” and also played in “Mustache”
clubs in New York, Boston, Cape Cod, Miami Beach (with Jackie Gleason at
“Joe the Bartender’s”), New Orleans, and in Brussels, Belgium. Mike stayed
with Your Father’s Mustache for over 8 years. He then moved to Florida
to play banjo at Walt Disney World, and was at Walt Disney World for 15
years. While at Walt Disney World, Mike played at the Diamond Horseshoe
Saloon in Frontierland in a show called “The Class of ‘27,” in Fort Wilderness
at the “Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue,” leader of the group “The Banjo Kings” on Main
Street in the Magic Kingdom, and as leader of “The Riverboat Rascals” on
the riverboat “Empress Lily” in Lake Buena Vista.
For the last 21 years Mike has been working in the
cruising industry, thrilling audiences all over the world with his banjo
virtuosity and wonderful sense of humor.
David Weibel
Dave Weibel has been playing the tenor banjo
since the age of ten. He currently enjoys playing in the Central
Ohio area with the dixieland group, "The Alternative to Bingo Band".
He has played with other local groups over the years and spent the summer
of 1974 in New Orleans playing at Your Father's Mustache. Basically,
Dave just enjoys playing the banjo, and looks forward to a fun time in
Tuscon.
Chris Edmunds
Chris Edmunds, 26, is a native New Orleanian
and professional banjo player. He studied music at Columbia College
Chicago, where he earned his degree in composition in 2007.
Chris is the bandleader of the traditional jazz band,
the New Orleans Moonshiners, with whom he has played at the New Orleans
Jazz and Heritage Festival, French Quarter Festival, Satchmo Summer Festival,
as well as countless swing dance festivals. He studied the banjo
and New Orleans jazz with banjo extraordinaire, “Uncle” Barry Foulon.
He earns his living playing the banjo around town with different bands
at clubs and venues all over the city of New Orleans. Edmunds is
also an active composer and recently created the Louisiana Composers Forum,
an organization dedicated to the performance of new local music.
Chris plays a 1927 Ludwig “Kenmore” plectrum banjo.
Bruce O’Neil
I have been working professionally for the last 43
years. Started out working in You Fathers Mustache nightclub chain in New
Orleans in 1966, first as a side man, later as leader. I was there about
ten years. Later I also worked at the Red Garter, a similar chain of nightclubs
for about three years. During that time I was able to perform with some
of the top people in the business at the time. During that early period
I also played at the famous Sazerac Bar at the Fairmont Hotel in New Orleans.
Often we would be asked to do occasional fill-in spot performances between
the shows at the famous Blue Room at that hotel. That hotel regularly brought
in big acts at the time. I later became leader of my own group at the Court
of Two Sisters in the French Quarter. I stayed there nearly eleven years.
About that time I also worked at a local Jazz Emporium in the French Quarter
called Fritzel's, often with well known clarinetist Jack Maheu.
I have played with some legendary players including
1920's (NORK) New Orleans Rhythm Kings trombonist Santo Pecora when he
had his own band called the Tailgate Ramblers, playing with Santo in the
1975 Jazz Festival on the Steamer President. I played with well known (in
the 1930's and 1940's) territory bandleader and pianist "Snookum" Russell
for a couple of years in the 1970's at a local Ramada Inn in town. Over
the years I have also been lucky enough to have played with local traditional
jazz bandleaders Chester Zardis and Emmanuel Sayles. Went on a short tour
in Germany with the European Barrelhouse Jazz Band from Frankfurt. I've
worked with various bands at Preservation Hall. I went on a tour in Japan
with local clarinetist Tim Laughlin's band. Sometime later I did a one
month tour in Japan with trumpeter John Brunious. Did a tour in Istanbul,
Turkey with David Hansen and his band a few years ago. I still work with
David Hansen in New Orleans. Traveled to San Paulo in South America with
Hansen and the (ODJB) Original Dixieland Jazz Band band featuring Jimmy
LaRocca. Jimmy and I still work together with a small group once a week.
I worked a couple of years in vocalist Banu Gibson's Hot Jazz group. I
have worked with and traveled with the Dukes of Dixieland who regularly
play on the Steamer Natchez here in New Orleans. I regularly play and travel
quite a bit with a local brass band called the Storyville Stompers. I have
been playing with them since 1991.
Chuck Brackman
Professional musician since age 12. Plays cornet,
banjo, tuba, bass and drums. Currently playing Commanders Palace in New
Orleans, Fritzels jazz pub on Bourbon St, private functions and conventions.
Danny Rubio
Danny Rubio is a tuba player from New Orleans.
His first professional gig was at age 15 at the Red Garter on Bourbon Street.
Looking back, his mother recalls that moment as the day her dreams and
hopes for him were shattered. She says he was destined to be a brain
surgeon and that he would have become one if he had not joined up with
that "Banjo Gang".
Before spending 10 years with The Dukes Of Dixieland,
Danny did time - I mean "kept time" - with banjos in numerous Your Fathers
Mustaches, Red Garters and even Capt. Tony's Saloon in Key West.
He currently splits his time between New Orleans, Louisiana and Birmingham,
Alabama. WHO DAT! ROLL TIDE!
Peter Babcock
One of a kind! Hailing from California, Peter
puts on a great show with his comic antics and dazzling skill playing his
amazing WASHBOARD rhythm. Peter has played with Your Father’s Mustache
(appearing on the Ed Sullivan Show), Disneyland, DisneyWorld, and worked
as the ‘Song and Dance Man” at world famous Rosie O’Grady’s Saloon in Orlando,
Florida.
Daniel "Sly" Slipetsky, Jr.
Sly is a free-lance jazz pianist/tubist who has
happily made Arizona his home since August of 1997.
A native of Wilmington, Delaware, Sly began his
piano studies at the age of eight, and he picked up
the tuba at fourteen. He received his first
taste of playing jazz at a
summer music camp in Main in between his high school
years.
Upon his graduation, he further honed his jazz
skills at three different universities
(University of Delaware, University of Arizona and
Arizona State
University).
While living in the Grand Canyon State, Sly has earned
his
daily bread strictly as a musician and he is quite
glad to be part of the
2010 Arizona banjo Blast!
Larry Risner
Discovered my first passion (dixieland music) at age
12 and bought my first banjo when I was 21 and have
been playing since then for 46 years now. I joined
the professional ranks within 2 years and played chord/melody
plectrum at local pizza parlors during the 60s' &
70's. I Played banjo with the Chicago Ramblers band in late 60's
and have a place in the Jazz West (Eckland) publication.
I also played tuba in pizza parlors during those years
and am a charter member of the East Bay banjo Club.
Currently I enjoy leading and playing the banjo with the Muir
Station Jazz Band (dixieland) and am also the leader
and play tenor guitar with the Basin Street jazz trio.
Love to jam with any & everyone.
Workshops
Johnny Baier
"Playing In Public"
Dave Marty
"My Way", How I Do It and Why."
Cathy Reilly
"Things That Make A Difference"
finnshows@aol.com
Don Van Palta
"Mostly Right Hand Technique"
http://www.plectrumbanjolessons.com/index.html
Dave Frey
"Chord Voicing and Tone Color for Multiple Players"
http://www.ultimatebanjo.com/index.html
Jeff Grosser
"Duo Style"
Steve Caddick
Chord Melody for Tenor Banjo
Kurt Abell
Rhythm - part deaux:
A brief history of the banjo's crucial role in rhythm, followed
by hands-on demonstration/instruction on the how, what, where and why of
different styles.
Michele Athens Abell
Advanced Music Theory
Michele has taught music theory, technique, and performance since
1977. Her students have included people of all ages. Teaching the fundamentals
of music theory is at the heart of her musical instruction. With the focus
on scales, chord structure, and intervals, a song can be created with just
a few notes placed in an orderly fashion. Those who pay attention, will
be able to create a tune in a short amount of time.
She draws her teaching style from 15 years of private instruction,
four years of college, and personal experience. Michele is also a seasoned
performer.
This three-part workshop will include written theory, voicing instruction,
and performance in the application of the learned material. Her creative
use of teaching aids are legendary, and her strict style may frighten the
faint of heart! So, come to class with your banjo, pencil, and a seat belt!!
Also, there will be private lessons available in the vendor room
on Friday and (possibly, depending on the need) Saturday.
Sign up sheets will be available as soon as the vendor room is unlocked.
Ginny Luetje
"Starting a Youth Band in your area"
Bring all your "Yes, but" excuses to this session
We will try to convince you that the future of banjo fun does indeed
depend on you !
Vinnie Mondello
Banjo maintanance
Luthier, Longview TX
Visit him at www.4stringbanjos.com
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