Big Banjo Weekend

Subject: Big Banjo Weekend
From: GUEST,Arnie
Date: 24 Jan 00 - 12:03 PM

I'm a little overly excited about banjo music right now. I just spent a weekend at an unwinterized cottage at -20C shoving wood in the stove and burning thousands of watts of energy from space heaters trying to stay warm, playing banjo music with Chris Coole onto digital tape. We recorded about 18 tunes so far (about 13 original melodies). We still have a few other songs to record next time around. Chris plays an absolutely killer version of Snowdrop. We did our own version of Darlin Cory (learned from B.F Shelton's old record)with one banjo fingerpicking and one clawing. We also did a melody of 2 versions of West Fork Gals (west Virginia tunes) with double clawhammer banjos. Our brand new tunes vary widely in tunings and complexity - and although most of the banjo sounds come from Vega TuBaphones, we also used a deeper toned Ramsey banjo, and an old Washburn on some cuts. Chris has an absolutely beautiful clear crisp tone that he gets from his professionally done fingernails, while mine is more of a plunky tone from using a short fingernail (which got a lot shorter after every tune I played) and our engineer has got us unbelievably amazing HI FI sound from using great mikes and equipment combined with his studio experience. We have about 23 tunes in mind for the CD, although that may be too much music and we'll have to weed out some before we're done, but I think there'll be some worthwile listening to a few fellow banjo nerds out there. Now it's back to reality of my dayjob - working to the sounds of Uncle Dave Macon on my stereo.

Subject: RE: Big Banjo Weekend
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 24 Jan 00 - 04:00 PM

Hey, Arnie, do you have a publisher? I'm looking forward to hearing you, being a banjo nerd myself (not "nerd" in the incongruously competent sense--my level of competence is in complete congruity with my lack of any real talent). I'm sure you'll let us know when it comes out and where we can get it.

--seed

Subject: RE: Big Banjo Weekend
From: GUEST,Arnie
Date: 24 Jan 00 - 06:50 PM

Bseed - Do I need a publisher? I register the tunes with SOCAN, not that it does much good - we have a fair amount of airplay on folk radio from our last CD, but so far not a penny for any of that ( I don't expect I'll retire in comfort from my banjo playing). I'm pretty happy if people like listening to it though from time to time. We'll get you the info on the final product when it's available - thanks. Where are you located? and what kind of banjo music do you play?

Subject: RE: Big Banjo Weekend
From: JedMarum
Date: 24 Jan 00 - 10:08 PM

I thought this was a thread about big banjos; ya know like baritone banjos or very olong necked banjos or something ... hmmm. ;-)

Sound like a good weekend though Arnie - best of luck with the rest of the project!

Subject: RE: Big Banjo Weekend
From: GUEST,flattop
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 08:15 AM

I too wondered where you got the big banjos. Perhaps you've accidently invented a new instrument.

Subject: RE: Big Banjo Weekend
From: catspaw49
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 08:29 AM

Well, I thought the same thing as liam and flattop at first.....I dunno'....maybe there's a market for a "BIG BANJO" weekend. Then again, can you think of anything more hideous? Perhaps a BIG ACCORDION weekend? Bodhran? Massed Hammered Dulcimers? (Been there...that's hideous!!!)

Spaw

Subject: RE: Big Banjo Weekend
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 08:51 AM

Sounds great Arnie. Looking forward to hearing the tunes. Have you seen your picture on Mudcat yet?

Rick

Subject: RE: Big Banjo Weekend
From: GUEST,flattop
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 09:05 AM

If the Banjos had resonators as big as a guitar, they could keep up with the accordians and the kids might even want one, Spaw. After their friends bought their expensive Crate amps, the Big Banjo kids could get out their Banjos and blow them away.

Subject: RE: Big Banjo Weekend
From: GUEST,Arnie
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 10:42 AM

Next time around we'll have a tiny banjo weekend and strum our banjo ukes. What's this about a picture - Rick?

Subject: RE: Big Banjo Weekend
From: catspaw49
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 10:54 AM

Arnie.....Go to "bbc's Mudcat Resources" under the "Quick Links" at the top of the page. click on "Photos" and then scroll down to "Events" and click there. There is a picture of Toronto 'Catters from December when Jeri was in town. You look good, but try to avoid having pictures taken with dubious characters like those in the future.

Also...What info on your previous CD?

Spaw

Subject: RE: Big Banjo Weekend
From: Metchosin
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 11:24 AM

If you're going to have a Big Banjo weekend, don't just have the Big Banjo kids playing, you could invite my Uncle Jack on his banjo mandolin. But you better do it soon, he's eighty-three and just got remarried last week...probably shouldn't push his luck...Always knew banjo players had staying power.

Subject: RE: Big Banjo Weekend
From: GUEST,Arnie
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 11:43 AM

Spaw - Thanks for the directions and warnings. Our last banjo CD is "5 Strings Attached With No Backing" (Arnie Naiman & Chris Coole). Available direct from Merriweather Records - check out website http://www.interlog.com/~ragged/index.html or from a few places including County Sales, Elderly Instruments, Andy's Front Hall.

Subject: RE: Big Banjo Weekend
From: black walnut
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 01:46 PM

trust these guys to make music the rustic way. would that i had been a fly on the wall at that session. WHOEVER you are, if you even THINK you like banjo, you'll LOVE chris and arnie. they ooze talent from each and every one of those fingernails.

~black walnut